What a night it proved to be for the Bayley Club as last week's Telford Snooker League fixtures saw four of the six teams from the Wellington Club come away with good victories.

And the pick of the bunch was surely Bayley D's 3-2 victory over Division 3 table-toppers Anstice C.

Having just missed out on promotion last season, the home side started the day still searching for their first win of the season - but they soon put that statistic right with a stunning display which yielded a 3-2 win over the Madeley side who started the day in joint first place.

Bayley captain Darren Rhoades' 38-29 win over Kevin Smith cancelled out Darren Wilkie's earlier win over Brian Aberdeen and the Bayley went ahead courtesy of a fine 57-45 win for Dave Williams over Jason Mills.

The Wellington side have recently been missing their inspirational former captain, the "Calculator Kid" Steve Lane - who was presented with a calculator after incorrectly adding up the score in his last match - and their problems continued to multiply as Steve Camp levelled the scores for the Anstice with a 28 break against Bill France.

But just as it was looking as though the Bayley would need to call upon Steve to return with his lucky red socks up popped Dave Dudley to clinch the final frame and the match with a superb 46-21 deciding frame win over Dave Harper.

Despite their defeat, the Anstice still remain top as the result of Bayley F's home clash with Minnesota Fats C is not yet in.

Bayley B took the opportunity to move into the promotion frame as they returned from the short trip to Wellington Billiard Hall F with all five points.

Dickie Oliver set the ball rolling with a 53-35 win over Chris Durham and son Danny Oliver followed in his father's footsteps by taking the next frame against Rob Cook to put the Bayley two up.

Dickie Beddall increased the lead still further with a 20 break against Chris Fletcher and further wins for Robin Sturmey and Bob Tracy completed the whitewash to leave the Bayley side in second place on 18 points, one behind Anstice C

Bayley C set off for their battle with Maddocks, hoping to drag themselves from the succession of 3-2 defeats they had been experiencing for the last few weeks, but yet again, 2 points was all they could take from the night.

Chris Haycox kept Doug Morrey at bay long enough for the home player to require a snooker on the pink. But Doug was unfortunate when he accidentally potted the pink when attempting the snooker he needed, and handed the Bayley boys a one frame start.

However, veteran Les Hicks was in no mood to let Bayley get two frames in front, as he set about leaving Mark Taras requiring snookers before the colours to draw Maddocks level at one frame all.

Ant Loviett kept the Foundrymen's momentum up when he too reduced Craig Johnson to requiring snookers with red balls still on the table, taking the third frame 80-24.

Dad Ian Johnson, faired much better, as he sunk a polished 30 break against Steve Pritchard, but the home player used all his experience to keep on the tail of his opponent, and snatched victory on the final black to secure a home win for the Maddocks outfit.

Bayley anchorman Craig Whitehead was asked to keep the scoreline respectable and did so with victory over Tony O'Neill in the final frame to leave the final score 3-2 to the Oakengates boys.

Newport B's recent good run came to an end when they entertained Wellington Billiard Hall B. The Wellington side did their promotion hopes a power of good as they move up to fourth place on the back of a 4-1 win.

They had to come from behind though after Alan Davies had given the home side the lead with a 58-25 success against Gareth Hughes.

Kevin Whitehead drew the Billiard Hall level by taking the next from Manjit Gidda and although John Yapp came close for Newport in the next it was Alan Francis who took the frame on the black to put the Billiard Hall in front.

And it was a lead they were never to surrender as Ian Atkinson took frame four from Alan Munn before Roy Francis rounded off a superb display with a 50-30 final frame win over Darren Edwards to secure his side's third win of the season.

Little Dawley B also claimed their third win when they returned from Shifnal D with a 3-2 victory. Terry Askew gave the home side the lead, taking the first frame against Rob Barlow.

Steve Ward and Phil Cottey then turned the match Little Dawley's way with wins over George Nelson and Geoff French respectively only for Arthur Aston to level matters once more with a brilliant 58-28 victory over Ray Clemence.

However it wasn't to be Shifnal's night as Gary Clemence claimed the deciding frame for the visitors with a fine 65-44 success over home captain Barrie Easthope to leave Little Dawley with the spoils.

DIVISION 1

Wellington Billiard Hall E gave first division leaders Anstice A a fright when they took a 2-1 lead in their home clash with the title favourites.

Shaun Harris gave the Anstice the lead with a 58-33 win over A Ali only for Phil Whitby to draw the home side level with a superb potting display to deny Neil Price 60-46. Phil's performance undoubtedly inspired Nigel Stallard who followed up with an equally impressive 76-22 victory over Keith Price to put the Billiard Hall 2-1 up.

Ian Duffy replied for the league leaders with a 39 break against Ray Evans and they clinched their fifth win of the campaign when Nick Oakley claimed the decider with a close 69-51 defeat of John Powell.

That win leaves the Madeley side two points ahead of second placed Broseley A who won four out of five frames away to Shifnal F.

A 46 break by Richie Hulme secured the first point for Broseley as he defeated Wally Harper 66-22.

Ex-Hills Lane man Tm Hicks followed suit by overcoming Chris Pinter 62-30 and John Shepherd put the match safe with some excellent potting to deny Nev Whitehead and put the visitors 3-0 up.

Spencer Rowley saved the Islanders a little grace as he pipped Carl Walker in a black ball game to win 58-50.

But Mick Brezwyn completed the onslaught for Broseley when he came out on top against anchor man Dave Peplow 63-26.

Coddon A drop one place to third, two points behind Broseley, after they fell to a shock 3-2 defeat away to Anstice D.

John Jones signalled the Madeley side's intent with a black ball win over Ian Ferriday and the home side went 2-0 up with as a superb potting display saw Darren Stevens gain the upper hand before completing a 62-31 win over Lee Szklarzewicz.

Nigel Wallcroft then rocked last season's runners-up by clinching the match with a black ball win over Coddon captain Dave Lloyd.

The next frame also went all the way to the final ball - with Coddon's Darren Weston sinking pink and black to put the visitor's first point on the board with a 64-55 win over Andy Elliot.

And the home side continued to perform brilliantly as Phil Reynolds almost pipped Paul Harper in the final frame of the evening - only for Paul to call on all his experience to rescue a further point for Coddon with yet another black ball finish.

Shifnal A join Coddon on 18 points after coming from behind to defeat Little Dawley A by three frames to two.

Richie Heighway was in fine form to take the first frame off Andy Easthope but Shifnal hit back strongly with Simon Biddulph getting the better of Colin Gittus in the next.

John Fallows then made it six wins out of six with a 54-41 win over Ade Henry before Darren Pountney once more levelled the scores with a 46-33 success over Roy Martin.

That left Shifnal new boy Angus Way to take centre stage for his new team with a 68-46 deciding frame victory over Graham Wiley to leave Shifnal well placed in the title race.

Darren Wincott produced some great potting allied to fine positional play on the way to opening the scoring for Maddocks A with a 70-29 success over Billiard Hall A's Steve Minshall.

Phil Davis was in similar form to take the next frame too for Maddocks against Morton Hughes and the home side looked to be racing into a 3-0 lead when Ian Skelton began the next frame with a 30 break against Alan Turner.

But the league secretary never gave up and eventually took the frame after a brilliant pot down the rail was followed by a double on the blue and the pink in the middle to claim the frame for the Billiard Hall by 65 points to 57.

Graham Darrell's 58-27 success over Mark Finucane levelled the frame scores only for Dave France to complete a fine 3-2 win for the home side with a 31 break against Andy Kendrick.

Minnesota Fats wasted no time in clinching their best win of the season so far with a stunning 5-0 success at home to Dawley Social.

Steve Collins took the opening frame against Gaz Bradshaw and Kev West doubled their advantage with a narrow 56-44 win over Mark Jones.

Jon Wright's 31 break sealed the third frame against Rick Bailey and with Keith Blackham and Steve Osbourne taking the last two frames as well against Barry Roden and Chris Woods the Oakengates side finished off the match in style.

DIVISION 2

It couldn't be closer at the top of Division 2 with three teams level at the top of the table with 20 points from six games played so far.

Coddon C started the day two points ahead of Bayley teams A and E but they lost their hundred percent record as they entertained Shifnal E and were beaten by three frames to two.

Arron Sparkes set the scene with a 69-52 opening frame victory over Don Bayliss but the home side hit back with Fraser MacKinnon's 69-48 success over Ray Edmunds.

Jeff Sparkes restored Shifnal's lead with a fine 72-28 win over John Whitehouse and the visitors secured their fourth win of the campaign when Chris Petford got the better of Sef Tusel 53-43.

However the Donnington side clung onto a share of top spot thanks to Ray Whitehead's black ball win over Rob Wright to leave the Donnington side on 20 points.

Bayley E also have 20 points after a 4-1 win over Minnesota Fats B sees them joint top.

Martin Watkins gave them the perfect start as he took the first frame by 20 points against Neil Pearson.

Steve Hoof made it 2-0, but only just as the second frame was settled on the black against Mick Pearson.

Rob Palin replied for the former Pot Black team with a 66-54 defeat of Kevin Owen but it was all his side could muster as further wins from Ali Jones over Mick Egan and Dave France against Kirk Stephenson sealed a good win for the Wellington side.

Bayley A also have a share of top spot following an excellent 4-1 win away at Anstice D.

Stew Wimbush gave the Madeley side the lead, slotting home the pink ball to deny Arthur Burrows - but the visitors hit back strongly with the in-form Steve Nicholls making no mistake with a 32 break against Steve Smallwood.

Now Steve may well have had an opportunity there to have posted the divisions highest break - but his team-mate Chris Morgan-Adams not only had a chance but took it as a superbly crafted run of 58 beat Byron Mitchell's previous target of 52.

Chris's victory over Mick Cahill put the Bayley 2-1 up and they increased their lead still further when Super-Sub Dennis Fletcher staved off a brave fight back from Billy Watson to take the next frame on the black.

And with Steve Fletcher claiming the final frame from George Hammond, the Wellington side left with four valuable points safely in their pocket.

Shifnal E are now only a point adrift of the leaders on 19 points with Little Dawley C just a point further back on 18 points following on from their 3-2 defeat away at Wellington Billiard Hall C.

Wayne Weeks gave the home side the start they were looking for when he got the better of Byron Mitchell and John Rawlins continued his side's bright start with a closely fought 47-36 victory over Lee Elcock.

Lee Drinkwater pulled a frame back for the visitors by claiming the next from Dave Cartledge and Little Dawley drew level when Mike King came from behind to snatch the fourth frame 56-47 with a 25 clearance against Alex Turnbull.

However the home side had the final say with Aaron O'Donnell securing a 3-2 win for the Billiard Hall with a 60-40 final frame win over Rob Withington.

Maddocks C also had a final frame hero - in the shape of Billy Rushton whose stunning potting secured the final frame of their match with Little Dawley G.

The first two frames had earlier been shared with Joe Oliver's win over Craig Leneveu cancelling out Roy Leneveu's opening frame victory against Dave Thomas.

Dave Leneveu's black ball win over Graham Hoof put the home side in front before Jim Hill's 47-46 single point victory over Graham Copson forced the decider.

Coddon B also won by the odd frame when they entertained Audco. Bob Dando set them on their way with a 49-30 success over Mark Matthews and the home side went further in front courtesy of Andy Jones' win over Neil Hendy.

Steve Downs then made it 3-0 against Andy Heathcote before the visitors hit back through Ray Hendy's 56-47 win over Nick Pearce.

And Newport continued their mini-comeback when Chris Austin took the final frame against Phil Szklarzewicz to leave the final score 3-2 to Coddon.

STEVE FLETCHER    

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

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