The race for the Telford Snooker League third division title reached its climax last week as Anstice C took all five points from their game at Bayley C to pip both Maddocks B and Bayley F to top spot.

Maddocks B started the day level on points with Anstice but led the table courtesy of having won one more match. However a 3-2 win at home to Shifnal D means the Oakengates side have to settle for second place with Bayley F finishing third, level on points with Maddocks, but having won one match fewer following their 5-0 win over Billiard Hall F.

Madeley's Darren Wilkie has had a remarkable first season in the Telford League and he rounded it off with a 24 break on the way to recording his twentieth win of the season against last season's John Bethell Trophy winner Craig Whitehead.

Steve Camp, himself in the final of the John Bethell Trophy this season, took the next on the black against Mark Taras before another black ball finish went Anstice's way when Dave Harper got the better of Chris Haycox 47-44.

Things weren't going the Bayley's way as the C team lost yet another black ball game when Jason Mills sunk the final ball to deny Mike Healey 63-54.

The Bayley's F team were playing on the adjacent table and had been hoping that the Anstice might slip up to open the door for them to take one of the two promotion places. But their hopes were dashed again as Colin Westwood took another close frame 72-62 against Jim Lewis to complete a superb 5-0 win.

Anstice's performance sees them promoted to the second divisions as Champions - and they will be joined there next season by Maddocks B who are promoted with a total of 66 points - the same as Bayley F who face another year in Division 3 having won one match fewer.

The Oakengates side have played superbly in the latter part of the season and duly booked their place in division two with a 3-2 home win over Shifnal D.

They had to come from behind though after Sanjay Chauhan had given Shifnal the lead with a 43-21 win over the in-form Doug Morrey

Steve Pritchard drew them level soon after with a 56-22 win over Terry Askew before two of the league's veterans took centre stage when Maddock's Les Hicks took on Shifnal's Arthur Aston.

They probably won't thank me for saying that their ages totaled some 160 years - but their snooker was of the highest quality with both players potting some great balls and playing some fine safety as Les finally took the frame 56-32 to put Maddocks ahead. Who said snooker was a young mans game?

Ant Loveitt then piled on the pressure with a fine win over Geoff French to secure Maddocks seventeenth win of the season - more than any other team in the division.

Ant's win secured Maddocks of at least runners-up spot but with Anstice winning 5-0 at Bayley C John Archer's final frame defeat at the hands of Barrie Easthope proved academic as the final placings had already been decided.

Bayley F started their first ever season in the league by rising to the top of the pile early on - and although they faltered slightly towards the end of the season they can be well pleased with their first season's work as in the end they only missed out on promotion on "goal difference".

They could do no more in their final game of the campaign than take all five points against a Billiard Hall F side who by their own admission have been disappointing this term.

Young Tom Maxfield has been a revelation this year and the Bayley youngster finished the season in style notching a 29 break on the way to an 83-43 win over Steve Weatherall.

Andy Summers, whose 50 break earlier in the season has earned him the division's highest break prize, then took the next 64-53 against Rob Cook before Paul Maxfield made it 3-0 by beating Richard Tranter.

Eddie Whitehead won his nineteenth game out of twenty two to deny Andy Fletcher in the next and there proved to be no last gasp win for the Billiard Hall's Chris Fletcher who played last having been to watch Shrewsbury Town play Wrexham. Just like the Town Chris fell to a last minute defeat - as the final frame went the way of Chris Shaw by 57 points to 28 as the home side completed the whitewash.

Bayley D also finished their season in style by taking all five frames from their game at Newport British Legion B.

Darren Rhoades' 56-47 defeat of Alan Davies set the Wellington side on their way to an eleventh win of the season.

Dave Williams doubled the visitor's advantage with a 57-18 success over Alan Munn before Bill France got in on the act with a 40-29 win over Manjit Gidda.

Brian Aberdeen's 54-23 win over John Yapp made it four on the trot and Dave Dudley rounded things off with a 56-33 win over Mike Doverskog in the last.

Minnesota Fats C's narrow chances of gaining a promotion slot faded as they dropped two points at home to Little Dawley B. Nonetheless they can be satisfied with a fine all round season which sees them finish the campaign in fourth spot.

Neil Robinson took the opening frame for Minnesota with a 33-18 win over Gary Clements only for Phil Cottey to level matters with a 64-26 win over Dave Welsh.

Tom Firmstone's win over Rob Barlow restored the home side's lead and they made certain of their fifteenth win when Mike Thomson beat Steve Ward on the black.

However the visitors had the final say as Craig Darrock sank the final black to deny Toby Welsh 47-42 to leave Minnesota the winners by the odd frame.

DIVISION 1

John Fallows has had a big impact on the destination of the first division's most wins trophy this season - the Shifnal hot shot has had a recent return to form and last week became only the third player this season to beat Anstice A's Shaun Harris.

If that wasn't enough he followed up this week with a superb 69-36 win over Broseley's Richie Hulme - a loss which was also the Broseley man's third of the season - to leave both Richie and Shaun with a share of the coveted trophy.

Shifnal A have recently returned to winning ways and they look to be in good shape for next season after Angus Way put them two up against Broseley as a fine run of 56 helped him to victory over Tim Hicks.

Simon McLeod hit back for the visitors by taking the next against Linsay Knox and although Mick Brezwyn drew Broseley level with a good win over Andy Easthope it was Shifnal who took the match courtesy of Simon Biddulph's 48-29 defeat of John Shepherd.

Despite their defeat Broseley can be well pleased with a fine season which has seen them finish up as League runners-up - some four points behind Anstice A.

Unfortunately no match card has been received yet for their match with Billiard Hall A but their 3-2 win included a nineteenth win of their campaign for Shaun Harris with Alan Turner and Graham Darrall claiming the Billiard Hall's two frames.

Sadly the Wellington side have finished the season in one of the two relegation spots - along with Dawley A.

Billiard Hall E have had no such problems this season although they did fall to a 4-1 defeat at Anstice D to end their campaign on a low note. However despite this minor set back they can be happy with a mid-table position having been promoted last time around. They also had good cause to celebrate last week as team mate Chris Morris' wife gave birth to a baby boy - our congratulations go to Chris and his family.

Shifnal F who have struggled most of the season made the trip to Maddocks A and suffered a 4-1 defeat.

Phil Davies, the Foundrymen's potting machine opened up with a win over Wally Harper 81-22.

Darren Wincott made it 2-0 when he tackled Chris Painter. With both players having 20 plus breaks, it was Darren who claimed a 20 point lead on the colours which was enough to give him victory 54-35.

Lee France then secured the match by beating Spencer Rowley. Lee took an early 35 lead but Spencer then produced a 20 break to put himself still in the frame but alas it was not to be as Lee ran out a 67-39 winner.

Ian Skelton soon made it 4-0 when he sank the final blue to give him a victory 55-30 victory over Nev Whitehead.

Islander Dave Peplow was then in no mood to see his fellow team-mates have the brush and came up with one of his best frames of the season when his potting and tactics showed no mercy against Maddocks' skipper Dave France who was forced to concede on the last red at 59-2.

Little Dawley A did manage to take all five frames from their game with Minnesota Fats to finish their season half-way up the table after looking over their shoulders at the relegation zone for much of the season.

The ever-impressive Jesse Lowe set the ball rolling with a 64-41 win over Jon Wright. Richie Heighway followed up with a 61-48 triumph over Steve Collins before Darren Pountney continued the trend by beating Kev West.

Keith Blackham looked as though he might salvage something for Minnesota when he knocked in a 39 break against Ade Henry - but the Little Dawley man rallied to take the frame 63-48 for a 4-0 lead.

And with Graham Wiley completing the scoring with a 55-40 win over Paul Devey the Little Dawley boys ended their campaign in good fettle - ahead of their Consolation Cup final against Bayley A.

DIVISION 2

Bayley E had all but secured the second division title before this week's matches kicked off - and although their game with Coddon C was postponed as a mark of respect for Coddon player Bob Dando, they are now assured of lifting the second division trophy as their closest rivals Shifnal E failed to gain maximum points from their game with Audco.

Matthew Davies gave Shifnal the lead with a 70-29 win over Ray Hendy and Aaron Sparkes made it 2-0 before Jeff Sparkes added a third with a good win over G Groucott.

Pete Smith's 58-50 success over Chris Petford saved a point for the Newport side but it was all they could muster as Rob Edmund secured the final frame with a 61-32 win over Chris Austin.

Shifnal were already certain of at least runners-up spot before play begun - but now definitely finish second and are promoted to the top flight for the first time.

For long periods of the season Bayley A harboured hopes of returning to division one but they ultimately fell short of their goal and ended their disappointing campaign with a 3-2 home win over Minnesota Fats.

Steve Nicholls was in fine form to give the Bayley the lead with a 38 break in his opening frame win over Mick Pearson.

Rob Palin drew Minnesota level as he took the next frame from Arthur Burrows as the Bayley player went in-off the final black and although Dennis Fletcher put the home side in front again Kirk Stevenson produced some excellent snooker to deny Chris Morgan-Adams 52-44 to make it all square after four frames.

The decider proved to be a close run thing too with Neil Pearson opening up with a superbly taken run of 40 to open up a 46 lead on home captain Steve Fletcher.

Steve replied with a 39 break of his own and was fortunate to take the last two balls for a 78-67 win after his opponent had missed an opportunity to seal the frame on the pink.

Colin Smith also took the deciding frame to secure a 3-2 win for Maddocks C at Little Dawley C.

Colin's 70-47 win over Rob Withington completed a fine win for Maddocks who came from two frames down after Byron Mitchell and Steve Farrington had taken the first two frames for the home side.

Jim Hill's 70-25 win over Lee Drinkwater began Maddocks revival and Joe Oliver's victory over Lee Elcock ensured the match would be decided on the final frame.

I would like to say a big thank you to all of those people who have contributed reports on their own particular matches throughout the season - special thanks go to Nev Whitehead of Shifnal F, Bayley C's Craig Whitehead and Little Dawley A's Darren Pountney and Rick Cousins.

STEVE FLETCHER    

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

IAN ELDRIDGE RETAINS UNDER 21 TITLE

Wellington Billiard Hall's Ian Eldridge retained his under 21 title when he pipped Lee Elcock of Little Dawley 4-3 in the final at Shifnal War Memorial Club on Monday.

Ian began well in the first frame and with the help of a 21 break opened up a 20 lead on the brown but then a brilliant clearance saw Lee pinch the frame 48-46.

The second frame followed in similar fashion as a 31 break put Ian in the driving seat but again Lee came back to grab the last five colours and win 56-52.

Although both players were not showing their full potential, the next two frames were shared with both players having 25 breaks in each.

The fifth frame went to Lee with the aid of a 32 break which gave him a more convincing frame score of 75-16. The sixth frame went to the champion 64-39 and this gave him the fillip he needed to polish things off in the decider 77-33.

NEV WHITEHEAD

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