Bayley E look set to bounce right back into Division 1 of the Telford Snooker League after a resounding 4-1 win over Audco A sees them leap into a 3 point lead at the top of the second division table.

Having dropped down a division along with Bayley A last term, the former Hadley team have now lost just twice and now lead both Coddon C and Shifnal E by three points with clubmates Bayley A a further point behind following a disappointing 4-1 defeat away to the Shifnal side.

But it is the Bayley's E team who are setting the division alight with a series of strong displays and last week was no different as Andy O'Brien started proceedings with a 50-25 win over Neil Hendy.

Steve Hoof followed in the same fashion with a good win over Pete Smith and things continued to go the home side's way when Keith Owen took the next from Ray Hendy on the pink.

Another close finish saw John Squire come out on top against Mark Matthews by 53 points to 41 to put the Wellington side four up but the visitors had the final say thanks to Chris Austin's superb last frame victory over home captain David France.

Coddon C kept up their push for promotion with a 3-2 win over Little Dawley C - but it could have been a different story as Byron Mitchell only just lost out in the opening frame against Don Bayliss - the former Hadley player clinching the frame on the final black.

Sef Tusel made it 2-0 with a good win over Mike King and the home team continued to lead the way with Fraser Mackinnon adding to their lead by taking the next frame against Lee Drinkwater.

Visiting captain Steve Farrington stopped the rot however with a fine 51-38 success over Matt Bothwell in frame four and they took the last frame too as Lee Elcock's potting power denied Ray Whitehead.

Shifnal E did their hopes of promotion a power of good when they entertained the team in second place at the start of the day, Bayley A.

And the home side wasted no time at all as they swept into a 4-0 lead with Aaron Sparkes accounting for Arthur Burrows and then dad Jeff denting Steve Nicholls hundred percent record with a 63-52 win over the previously undefeated Bayley man.

The home side had former English Amateur Champion Matthew Davies making his debut for them and true to form he duly knocked in a lovely 58 break to tie for the highest break prize with Bayley's Chris Morgan-Adams.

But his opponent Bob Mason fought back strongly, obtaining the three snookers he needed on the yellow, before finally succumbing 85-31 as Shifnal went 3-0 up.

Three soon became four when Chris Petford took the next on the pink against Chris Morgan-Adams and the visitors only prevented the whitewash thanks to Steve Fletcher's 54 break against Rob Wright in the last.

Their 4-1 win sees Shifnal leapfrog over their opponents into joint second place with the Bayley now level on points with Little Dawley C.

Wellington Billiard Hall C are just a point further back on 23 following an excellent 4-1 home win over Minnesota Fats B.

Ian Eldridge took the first frame against Mick Pearson by 54 points to 41 to inspire his captain John Rawlins who responded with a 60-32 success over Rob Palin.

Alex Turnbull made it 3-0 before Kirk Stephenson rescued a point for the visitors with a 24 break in his black ball win over Aaron O'Donnell.

The respite was short-lived though as Wayne Weeks finished things off in style with a 22 break to deny Neil Pearson and leave the home side victorious by four frame to one.

Maddocks C claimed their fifth win of the season when they won a close encounter at Anstice B by the odd frame.

Things looked promising for the Oakengates side early on when Dave Thomas took the opening frame on the black against Stew Wimbush and Graham Hoof beat Mick Cahill.

But the home side retaliated with George Hammond rolling back the years to defeat Dave Hodson 55-25 only for Billy Rushton to clinch a well-deserved victory for Maddocks with a fine win over Billy Watson.

But any hopes the Maddocks boys had of adding to their tally proved to be forlorn as Danny Weaver snatched a 46-23 last frame win for Anstice against Jim Hill.

Bob Dando gave Coddon B the lead as they travelled to play Little Dawley G but Pete Frost soon levelled for the home side with an exciting 72-71 black ball win over Mark Wall.

Andy Jones restored the visitor's lead by taking the next from Chris Leneveu and Coddon went 3-1 up when Steve Downs came out on top against Graham Copson 62-46.

However the home side took the final frame thanks to a fine display from Dave Leneveu against Phil Szklarzewicz.

DIVISION 1

Things are hotting up nicely at the top of Division 1 with joint leaders Anstice and Broseley A pre-empting the weekend's football scores as, just like Liverpool and Arsenal, they both went down 3-2.

Darren Pountney was a member of last season's double-winning Hills Lane A side and he found himself on the opposite side of the tracks to his former team-mate Shaun Harris in the opening frame of what proved to be a good night for the Little Dawley men.

Darren's 57-28 win not only gave his side the lead but sadly put an end to Shaun's impressive seven game winning streak but the visitors soon had something to smile about as Neil Price levelled matters with a stylish performance against Richie Heighway.

A 44 break from Jesse Lowe then brought the house down as the veteran produced some brilliant snooker on the way to a 68-16 success over Keith Price to give the home side the lead - and they made certain of a memorable victory when Ade Henry secured the next frame too against Ian Duffy with the aid of a 31 break.

And although Nick Oakley claimed the final frame against Colin Gittus on the black it wasn't enough to prevent the home side celebrating only their third win of the season.

With Anstice losing, Broseley A will be kicking themselves at having missed an opportunity to take over on their own at the top of the table although they did get off to a good start when Richie Hulme won his eighth game on the trot with a 37 break against Darren Wincott to give them the lead away to Maddocks A.

Ian Skelton replied for the home side with a 71-36 win over Tim Hicks and although they fell behind once more - to John Shepherd's 61-20 defeat of Phil Davis - they took the final two frames for a good 3-2 win.

Leigh France drew Maddocks level with a fine victory over the dependable Simon McLeod to set up the deciding frame between the two captains.

Maddock's skipper Dave France got in early with a 24 break and led by some 37 points at one point only for Mick Brezwyn to fight back doggedly to put himself in with a shout on the colours. But it wasn't to be Broseley's night as Dave rattled in both pink and black to take the frame and the match for Maddocks.

Third-placed Coddon A also slipped up as they went down 4-1 at home to Wellington Billiard Hall A. Alan Turner, who won the league's individual title in its very first season, rolled back the years to give the visitors the lead with a 61-49 win over Ian Ferriday.

Former county champion Zenon Lembicz drew Coddon level with a 64-47 success over Steve Minshall but it was to be his side's only success as Andy Kendrick weathered a 32 break from Darren Weston to take the next 70-56 with a 31 break of his own.

Not to be out-done, Mick Hughes wrapped up the fourth frame 62-26 against Lee Szklarzewicz leaving Graham Darrell to join in the fun with an excellent win over Adrian Smith in the last.

Defeat leaves Coddon still in third spot, but they now lie three points behind Anstice and Broseley with Wellington Billiard Hall A now hot on their heals a further two points back with 22 points.

Shifnal A now have 21 points following their 3-2 success away at Anstice D.

Angus Way seems to be proving a popular acquisition by the Shifnal side and he duly gave them the lead with a 32 break against John Jones.

Nick Browne made no mistake either in the next against Phil Reynolds but any thoughts the visitors had of running away with things were soon dashed as the Anstice took the next two frames through Nigel Wallcroft and Andy Elliott.

It was all down to the decider therefore when Linsay Knox came to play Darren Stevens - and the Shifnal man didn't let his side down with a fine 63-32 victory to give his side their fifth win in eight games.

Wellington Billiard Hall E went two better than Shifnal though as they took all five points from their home game against bottom-of-the-table Dawley A.

M Shadab set the ball rolling with an opening frame win over Chris Woods and Ray Evans followed suit against Dave Hampton.

Phil Whitby's 61-33 defeat of Rick Bailey made it 3-0 leaving A Ali and Nigel Stallard to wrap things up with wins over Barry Roden and Gaz Bradshaw respectively

Shifnal F came close to claiming a full house when they entertained Minnesota Fats A and ran out 4-1 winners.

Wally Harper paved the way with a pink ball win over Steve Collier 56-45 only for Keith Blackham to level matters with some excellent potting against Chris Painter.

Spencer Rowley then pipped Paul Devey on the black to put Shifnal back in front and Nev Whitehead made the match safe by beating Steve Osborne 78-25 with a 35 break.

Dave Peplow then put the icing on the cake with a 71-27 win over Kev West.

DIVISION 3

There are joint leaders at the top of the third division too with Anstice C taking a share of the limelight along with Bayley F after the Madeley side won all five frames against Newport British Legion B.

It was a close fought thing though with three of the five frame decided on the final black.

Darren Wilkie's 59-51 defeat of Darren Edwards set the Anstice on their way and after Steve Camp had made it 2-0 Kevin Smith took the next 61-54 against Alan Munn.

John Smith's 47-31 defeat of Mike Doverskog made it four on the trot for the visitors and they completed their nap hand courtesy of Frank Williams' 52-41 win over John Yapp.

The Madeley side now have 24 points from just seven games - the same record as league new boys Bayley F who won an entertaining derby clash with their C team by the odd frame.

Young Tom Maxfield scored 30 in two visits as he opened the scoring for the F team with a 52-32 win over Craig Johnson. Paul Maxfield doubled the "home" team's advantage with a 62-49 success over Craig Whitehead and they continued in the same vane when Chris Shaw got the better of Chris Haycox in the next.

But the C side were not finished by a long way and Jim Lewis inflicted a first defeat of the season on Eddie Whitehead to give them some hope before Ian Johnson took the final frame for the C team with a close 48-34 win over Andy Summers to leave the F team with three points and a share of top spot.

Bayley B drop down to third after falling to a 3-2 reverse at Maddocks B.

Doug Morrey was clearly inspired by his visits to the British Open as he swept aside Dickie Oliver 77-33 in the opening frame. Veteran Les Hicks made short work of the next frame too defeating young Danny Oliver as the home side raced into a two frame lead.

Kelvin McLeod replied for the Bayley with a good win over John Archer and although Dickie Beddall drew them level Steve Pitchard's final frame victory over Robin Sturmey completed a 3-2 win for the Oakengates side who move up to fourth - one place ahead of Bayley D who kick-started their season with a good 4-1 home win over Shifnal D.

Dave Dudley took a high-scoring first frame for the home side with a 66-54 win over Mick Guest only to see Terry Askew make it all square again with a 68-38 win over Darren Rhoades.

Dave William's black ball defeat of Geoff French put the Bayley back in front and they made certain of winning the match when Brian Aberdeen doubled the pink into the corner pocket before landing perfectly on the black to leave Arthur Aston beside himself.

With victory secured the pressure was off former captain Steve Lane as he stepped up, resplendent in his lucky red socks to defeat Barrie Easthope 64-33 and secure a 4-1 win for the Bayley boys.

Wellington Billiard Hall F were looking to give their season a boost when they entertained Little Dawley B and they made a good start, taking each of the first three frames.

Chris Durham set the scene with a 59-29 win over Rob Barlow and further wins from Richard Tranter and Chris Fletcher put the home side in the driving seat.

But it was there that their luck ran out as Ray Clements pulled one back for Little Dawley with a 48-32 scoreline against Steve Weatherall and Steve Ward ran out a 50-28 winner against Andy Fletcher.

My apologies to Wellington Billiard Hall B who did superbly the week before to defeat second division Minnesota Fats B in the first round of the Team Knockout. Unfortunately last week's report stated they had lost by six points when in fact they won the match in some style after taking their handicap into account to book their place in round two.

STEVE FLETCHER    

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

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