Wellington Billiard Hall F will miss the opportunity next week of adding their usual festive touch to the Telford Snooker League proceedings as they are one of many teams receiving byes in the second round of the cup competitions.

The Wellington side normally enter into the Christmas spirit by donning waistcoats and bow ties for the final game before the Christmas break and although saddened at not being able to keep up their colourful tradition, they will no doubt be looking to brighten up proceedings when they restart their campaign in the New Year.

And they will be hoping for better luck next year than they have had so far this season as the popular Wellington quintet try to push away from the bottom of the table position they currently occupy following last week's 5-0 defeat at promotion chasing Bayley F.

Chris Fletcher could do nothing to prevent Eddie Whitehead claiming the first frame for the Bayley who then doubled their lead with Chris Shaw's 58-33 victory over Chris Durham.

Andy Summers took on namesake Andy Fletcher in the next and again it was the Bayley man who won through with a 77-45 score line to put the visitors 3-0 up.

Paul Maxfield then made it four on the trot with victory over birthday boy Richard Tranter, leaving young Tom Maxfield to wrap things up with a black ball win over Rob Cook in the last.

Having finished third and fourth in the past two seasons the Billiard Hall team will be hoping to turn things around after the Christmas break but for now it is the Bayley side who look like title contenders as they lie just a point behind leaders Anstice C at the half-way mark.

The Madeley side were soon out of the traps as they entertained Bayley C with man of the moment Darren Wilkie notching runs of 26 and 22 on the way to taking the first frame against Chris Haycox.

Darren not only holds the highest break in this division with a run of 45 but also heads the race for the most wins with ten wins out of eleven so far.

Craig Whitehead was always in control for the Bayley in the next however as he outpointed Dave Harper 50-20 and the visitors then took the lead as Steve Camp found Jim Lewis a tough nut to crack as Jim continued his recent fine form to record an impressive victory and give the basement boys a 2-1 lead.

Visiting skipper Mike Healey will still be wondering how he lost the next frame against Jason Mills, having been in front throughout the frame and playing some of his best snooker of the season. But it was where it mattered most that Jason got his nose in front to pinch the frame 58-43 on the pink and take the match to the deciding frame.

This proved to be a very scrappy affair with both players struggling to find any sort of form, but home anchorman Colin Westwood managed to hold his nerve against Ian Johnson to salvage a win for the league leaders, when a 4-1 defeat could so easily have been snaffled by the visitors.

Minnesota Fats C consolidated third place in the table as they also won 3-2 away at Little Dawley B.

Bob Lane gave them the perfect start with a 49-32 defeat of Ray Clements, but the home side hit back through Gary Clements' black ball finish against Neil Robinson.

Tom Firmstone restored the visitors lead with a 26 break against Rob Barlow and they secured their eighth win in eleven games when Dave Welsh took another close frame 50-38 against Craig Darrock.

The home side had the last laugh though with Phil Cottey snatching the final frame from Toby Welsh on the pink to leave Minnesota five points behind the leaders Anstice C and four adrift of second placed Bayley F.

The Canongate side have made great strides in recent weeks and they have been helped in no small way by their excellent 4-1 victory over Bayley F in a re-arranged fixture.

Dave Welsh and Neil Robinson got the better of son and father Tom and Paul Maxfield to put the home side two frames up early on and they continued to dominate proceedings when Toby Welsh inflicted a rare defeat on Eddie Whitehead in Frame Three.

Chris Shaw's single point victory saw him sneak home on the black against Tom Firmstone as the Bayley pulled a frame back but the home side completed a superb 4-1 win thanks to Mike Thompson's 46-36 final frame win over Andy Summers.

As a result Minnesota leapfrog over Bayley B who drop to fourth after falling to a 3-2 home defeat against Wellington Billiard Hall B.

Kelvin McLeod gave the Bayley boys the perfect start with a 42-24 success against Gareth Hughes and things continued to go their way as Danny Oliver put them two up with a good win over Alan Francis.

Kevin Whitehead soon stopped the rot as he retrieved the next frame for the visitors by beating Dickie Oliver 53-32 and they took the next two frames as well through Iain Atkinson and Roy Francis, the latter on the black against Dickie Beddall, to record their fourth win of the campaign.

Bayley D's season has seen something of an upturn of late and they continued their recent good form with a fine 3-2 win over Newport British Legion B.

Darren Rhoades who has taken over the captains reins from the colourful Steve Lane, suitably took the opening frame on the colours to give the home side the lead.

Dave Williams squeezed home in the next by sinking the final black for a 55-54 victory over Alan Munn but the home side were pegged back in the next as Alan Davies got the better of Billy France.

Brian Aberdeen restored the Bayley's two frame advantage with a 53-32 defeat of Mike Doverskog but the gap was narrowed once more as Darren Edwards took the final frame from Dave Dudley on the black to leave the home side victorious by the odd frame.

DIVISION 1

Anstice A will take a two point lead at the top of division one with them into the New Year after claiming all five points from their home clash with Wellington Billiard Hall A.

Neil Price led the way in some style, knocking in a 63 break on the way to taking the first frame from Graham Darrell.

Shaun Harris made it two with a high-scoring 78-45 success over League secretary Alan Turner but with the visitors unable to field any more players the home side were left with a 5-0 win which keeps them on top of the table, two points ahead of Broseley A who won 4-1 at home to Shifnal A.

This was yet another good performance from the Broseley team who responded brilliantly form their defeat at Coddon the previous week with a super performance against fellow title contenders.

Richie Hulme took the opening frame on the black against Angus Way and Tim Hicks got the better of John Fallows as the home side raced into a two frame lead.

Paul Humphries kept up the pressure with a 62-50 success over Shifnal captain Andy Easthope and the visitors were left facing a possible whitewash after Simon McLeod defeated former county champion Simon Biddulph with a 57 break along the way.

However, when the going gets tough, the tough get going - and Linsay Knox didn't let his team-mates down as he saved the day with a last gasp 54-53 win over Mick Brezwyn to rescue a point for the Shifnal boys.

As a result of that defeat Shifnal drop down to firth spot, a point behind both Maddocks A and Coddon A who both have 31 points.

Coddon however have their points tally from just ten games as their result from last week's matches is not yet in. Maddocks have played a game more and are in fourth spot thanks to a solid if not spectacular performance at home to Shifnal F.

Wally Harper gave Shifnal the lead with a 46-32 win over Darren Wincott and the home side then doubled their lead when Chris Painter's 22 break paved the way to a good win over Phil Davis.

Breaks of 21 and 24 saw Ian Skelton halve that lead as he took the next frame from Spencer Rowley and Maddocks drew level soon afterwards when Leigh France potted well to deny Nev Whitehead.

And with Dave France completing a fine comeback with a 59-27 success over Dave Peplow the visitors left happy with three points after what had been a shaky start.

Little Dawley A started off in great fashion with a solid display from Ade Henry as they travelled to Minnesota Fats A and came away with a good 3-2 win.

Despite a brave comeback by Keith Blackham, Ade held on to win the opening frame 63-51 and the visitors then increased their lead as Richie Heighway was in sparkling form against an out of sorts John Wright, winning 64-10.

Jesse Lowe went on next hoping to secure the victory for Little Dawley but Steve Collins was in superb form racing into a 40 point lead. Jesse came back well but had to concede after going in off the pink 49-75.

A tight frame between Kev West and Darren Pountney ended in Darren's favour 63-50 and although Paul Devey tidied things up against Colin Gittus 58-27 in the last it was not enough to prevent Little Dawley from winning the match 3-2

Nigel Wallcroft was Anstice D's hero, compiling a 55 break on the way to a second frame victory over Chris Morris. But he was to be his side's only winner on the night as Wellington Billiard Hall E took the match by four frames to one.

M Shadab took the opening frame for the home side on the black against Andy Elliot and further wins from Phil Whitby and John Powell put them in control.

And with A Ali taking the final frame too the Wellington side were left celebrating their fourth win of the season.

DIVISION 2

Bayley E's lead at the top of the second division has been cut to three frames after the Wellington side won their match with Coddon C by the odd frame - although with no match card yet in the current league table shows them as being level on points with Shifnal E who recorded an excellent 4-1 win away at Audco.

Matt Davies opened the scoring against Ray Hendy and although Neil Hendy drew the Newport side level with a 60-39 win over Aaron Sparkes it was to be his side's only bright spot as the visitors won all three of the remaining frames.

Jeff Sparkes restored Shifnal's lead against Andy Heathcote and further wins for Roy Edmunds and Chris Petford completed a superb win for the Shifnal side who remain ahead of Bayley A who lie a further point behind after a 3-2 win over Minnesota Fats B.

They had to come from behind twice though after Kirk Stephenson took the opening frame for the home side with a 58-20 success over Bob Mason.

Arthur Burrows then held his nerve superbly to take the last two balls for a 60-54 win over Rob Palin as the visitors levelled only for Neil Pearson to put his side in front for a second time with a 36 break against Steve Nicholls.

However the Bayley side rallied to take the last two frames through Chris Morgan-Adams and Steve Fletcher to complete their eighth win of the season.

Coddon B and Wellington Billiard Hall C are now joint fourth on 30 points each after the Donnington side came from behind to defeat their Wellington rivals by four frames to one.

Dave Cartledge won a high-scoring opener 62-51 against Steve Downs before the home side got their act together with a vengeance.

Andy Jones drew Coddon level with a 54-43 defeat of John Rawlins and they never looked back after Bob Dando gave them the lead with a good performance against Aaron O'Donnell,

Neil Pearce made it 3-1 leaving Phil Szklarzewicz to round things off nicely with a 70-57 final frame victory over Alex Turnbull.

Little Dawley G were also on the winning trail with a 3-2 success at home to Anstice B.

Danny Weaver put the visitors in front though as he took the first frame on the pink from Ray Leneveu.

Pete Frost levelled for the home side and they went in front when Dave Leneveu got the better of George Hammond in the next.

Mick Cahill scraped over the line in the next as he beat Chris Leneveu on the final black 51-50 to force the decider which saw Graham Copson rise to the occasion with breaks of 25 and 20 against Stew Wimbush.

STEVE FLETCHER    

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

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