It was time once again last week for snooker players throughout the Telford area to dust off the cobwebs from their cues and settle down for regular Wednesday night action on the green baize as the Telford Snooker League began it's 27th season.

Aspirations were running high as a total of 36 teams set out to pot their way to the top of their respective divisions in the hope of emulating last seasons champions Hills Lane A.

With the Hills Lane club still being refurbished, several of their players have made the short trip down the road to join a new-look Anstice A side - and they took no time at all to get into their stride with a thumping 5-0 win over newly-formed Anstice D.

Neil Price set the scene with a 63-31 success over former individual champion Adam Moore before debutante Shaun Harris made it 2-0 defeating Nigel Wallcroft by 54 points to 13.

Keith Price's 60-20 win over former team-mate Phil Reynolds made it three in a row before Nick Oakley and Noel Stones completed the whitewash by taking the last two frames from John Jones and Andy Elliot respectively.

That win leave's the Anstice sitting pretty at the top of the first division table along with Maddocks A who also gained maximum points from their home tie with Wellington Billiard Hall E.

The Wellington side could have hoped for an easier baptism to the top flight after gaining promotion from division two last term - and they soon found themselves trailing to Mark Finucane's 58-24 opening frame win over Chris Morris.

Former under 21 champion Darren Wincott weighed in with a 29 break in the next to deny Phil Whitby and Maddocks went further ahead courtesy of Phil Davis' win over former scrabble champion Nigel Stallard who will have been disappointed only to have scored the same number of points awarded for the letter N.

Dave France made it a tripple word score in the next, knocking in a break of 42 which would have been more had the final red not jawed in the pocket with the white perfectly positioned on the blue. Nonetheless his win over Ray Evans put the home side four up leaving Leigh France to complete the full house with a 25 break in the last.

All of the remaining Division One matches were decided by the odd frame with Minnesota Fats pulling off a surprise 3-2 win away to last season's runners-up Coddon A.

Things went according to plan for the home side as Paul Harper gave them the upper hand with a 52-27 defeat of Paul Devey but the visitors were soon level thanks to Steve Collin's 31 break against Ian Ferriday.

Adrian Smith restored Coddon's lead with a narrow 46-36 win over Steve Osborne only for the Oakengates side to claim the last two frames through Jon Wright's victory over Terry Brenthall and a brilliant 54-27 deciding frame win for Kevin West over Lee Szklarzewicz.

Wellington Billiard Hall A also won by the odd frame as they recovered from 2-0 down to defeat Broseley A 3-2.

The visitors set off at a tremendous pace with Richie Hulme taking the opening frame against Bill Gathercole.

Paul Humphries then set an early target for the highest league break when he took the next with a superb run of 50 to defeat Steve Minshall 90-53 in a high-scoring encounter.

However the home side were not to be denied and it was the reigning individual champion, Nigel Fletcher who began the fight-back by taking frame three by 50 points to 27 against Carl Walker.

Alan Turner drew the Billiard Hall level when he took the next on the black to deny Mick Brezwyn 51-50 leaving comeback kid Andy Kendrick to complete the scoring with a 63-46 deciding frame victory over Simon McLeod.

John Fallows has been in fantastic form of late so it was no surprise to his team-mates when he gave Shifnal A the early lead as they played host to Dawley A.

That lead proved to be fragile though as Mark Jones levelled with an excellent win over debutante Angus Way but the home side were back in front again soon afterwards courtesy of captain Andy Easthope's success over Pete Nolan

Rick Bailey drew Dawley level once more at two frames all with a fine win over Roy Martin but he could do nothing to prevent Linsay Knox giving the Shifnal lads a winning start to the campaign with a final frame win over Barry Roden.

Newly promoted Shifnal F fell at the first hurdle when they were beaten away at Little Dawley A by the odd frame.

Colin Gittus put the home side ahead when he sunk the last two reds with colours to give him a 29 lead on the yellow which proved too much for Spencer Rowley to recover.

Jesse Lowe put the home team 2-0 up after a hard tussle with Chris Painter - the Shifnal man looked set to snatch victory only to jaw the final brown leaving Jesse to clear up for a 63-55 win.

Graham Wiley then opened up a 29 lead on the colours as he overcame Brian Painter by 75 points to 34 to make it 3-0 only for Shifnal to hit back by taking the last two frames through Nev Whitehead's solid display against Richie Heighway and Dave "Mr Dependable" Peplow's narrow 53-42 defeat of Ade Henry.

DIVISION 2

Last season's third division champions Little Dawley C are amongst the early pace-setters in Division 2 after they made a perfect start by taking all five frames at home to Audco A.

Byron Mitchell led the way with a 51-34 win over Chris Grocott and Lee Elcock continued the trend with breaks of 21 and 30 against Neil Hendy.

Lee Drinkwater followed suit against Ray Hendy and although Andy Heathcote put up a brave fight against Steve Farrington it was the Little Dawley captain who came out on top 55-29 to make it 4-0.

And with Rob Withington taking the final frame too, the reigning third division champs look set to make a name for themselves in the second division as well.

Shifnal E narrowly missed out on promotion to the top flight last term - and they look to be in determined mood this time around as they too took all five frames on offer when they entertained Coddon B.

Arron Sparkes' knocked in a 25 break on the way to giving Shifnal the lead against Mark Wall and dad Jeff made it 2-0 with a close 47-39 win over Andy Jones.

Chris Petford made no mistake against Steve Downes in the next and referee Rob Wright, playing his first match since his return from officiating at the recent World under 21 championships, made it 4-0 leaving Fred Harper to complete the nap hand with a 56-39 final frame win over Nick Pearce.

Billiard Hall C's new signing Ian Eldridge showed his first division experience by knocking in a steady 21 break on his way to taking the opening frame for his new team as the former third division champions won 5-0 at home to Little Dawley G.

Despite a scrappy start, home skipper John Rawlins potted his way out of trouble towards the end of the frame which was eventually won by a "Rawlins Special" on the final blue as he took the next 55-32 from Dave Leneveu.

Having gained promotion last season the Little Dawley outfit were unlucky to come up against such an in-form side so early in the season - and Wayne Weeks underlined the home side's authority with a superb 22 clearance to take the third frame against Chris Leneveu.

Debutante Aaron O'Donnell did nothing to harm his chances of a regular first team place when he snatched the fourth frame on the black to deny Ray Leneveu and the Billiard Hall made certain of a share of top spot when Alex Turnbull coolly slotted home a 21 break in the final frame to seal a superb victory over Graham Copson.

Former Pot Black team Minnesota Fats B will need to adjust to their new surroundings after falling to an opening night 4-1 defeat at the hands of Coddon C.

Don Bayliss and Fraser Mackinnon gave the visitors an early 2-0 lead and although Mick Egan came close it the next he was unable to prevent the visitors stretching their lead through Sef Tussel's 47-38 win.

Kirk Stephenson secured the home side's first point of the season when his 20 break made certain of the fourth frame against Matt Bothwell only for Ray Whitehead to seal a fine win for the Donnington side with a 69-36 win over Neil Pearson.

The two Bayley teams relegated from Division 1 last term had mixed fortunes with the E team scoring a 4-1 win at Anstice B whilst Bayley A fell to a 3-2 defeat at home to Maddocks C.

Martin Watkins won a nail-biting opening frame for Bayley E by just a single point, defeating Mick Cahill 71-70 in a high-scoring encounter. Andy O'Brien made it 2-0 before George Hammond replied for the Anstice with a fine 58-38 triumph over Steve Hoof.

But the home side were unable to follow George's example as the visitors were quickly back in the groove as Ali Jones restored their two frame lead with a 54-23 success over Steve Smallwood.

And John Squire wrapped things up neatly with a superb 73-49 win over John Darrock to leave the Bayley side well placed for a push back to the top flight.

Bayley A on the other hand found life in Division 2 just as tough as they did in the first division last time around as they slipped to a disappointing 3-2 defeat at home to a strong Maddocks C side.

Graham Hoof potted well to take the opening frame against Chris Morgan-Adams and the visitors doubled their lead in unfortunate circumstances when Arthur Burrows was unable to negotiate a tricky Chinese snooker resulting in his opponent Jim Hill being awarded the frame under the miss rule. The home referee had no choice but to award the frame to Arthur's opponent after he failed to hit a red for the third time.

Steve Nicholls was in inspired form for the Bayley in the next, rattling in breaks of 28 and 29 on the way to pulling a frame back against Dave Thomas and the Bayley almost drew level after the shot of the night saw Bob Mason sink a long pink to give him a chance of pinching the fourth frame against Billy Rushton. But it wasn't to be as Billy calmly rolled in the black to put the visitors 3-2 up.

A 25 break gave Joe Oliver the upper hand in the final frame as well but home captain Steve Fletcher rallied to snatch an unlikely win on the blue to salvage another point for the Bayley who will have to improve if they hope to return to the first division next term.

DIVISION 3

Anstice C are the early leaders in Division 3 following a 4-1 away win at Wellington Billiard Hall B.

Darren Wilke took the opening frame from Kevin Whitehead and Steve Camp beat Alan Francis as the Madeley side took the initiative.

Iain Atkinson pulled one back for the home side with a 58-43 win over Kevin Smith but it was all that his side could muster as further wins from John Smith and Jason Mills completed an excellent start for the Anstice side.

The remaining five fixtures in this division were all settled by the odd frame and Newport British Legion B will have been well pleased to have been one of those teams posting a first win of the season when they came out on top against Wellington Billiard Hall F.

The Wellington side narrowly missed out on promotion last time around and will have been disappointed to have started this season off on the wrong foot. But there was nothing they could do as their opponents produced a fine display with John Yapp taking the opening frame from visiting captain Chris Durham.

Robert Cook drew the Billiard hall level with a black ball win over Darren Edwards and things looked good for the Wellington outfit when Richard Tranter took the next frame too against Mike Doverskog.

Manjit Gidda's 37-21 success over Chris Fletcher made the frames score all square allowing Alan Davies to take the plaudits with a fine 68-29 deciding frame victory over Steve Weatherall.

Robin Sturmey was also on target for Bayley B to take the deciding frame of their derby clash with newcomers Bayley F.

But it was the F team who had started the brighter as Eddie Whitehead showed no nerves on his debut for the league's new boys, notching a fine 30 break on the way to giving his side the lead against Kelvin McLeod.

And things continued to go their way as Chris Shaw got the better of "home" captain Bob Tracey to make it 2-0.

But the F team were left still searching for their first win as Danny Oliver set the B team on the comeback trail when he won the battle of the youngsters against exciting young prospect Tom Maxfield, who at just nine years old is the youngest player in the league.

Dicky Beddall drew the B team level with a fine 53-39 win over Andy Summers to set up Robin Sturmey's final frame win over Paul Maxfield to complete a 3-2 win for the B string.

Maddocks B also won 3-2 when they entertained Bayley D. Les Hicks was unable to prevent new Bayley captain Darren Rhoades giving the visitors the lead with a 34-25 opening frame scoreline. But the home side were soon on the scoreboard themselves as Doug Morrey wasted no time levelling matters with a fine win over super sub Mark Beddall.

Ant Loveitt and John Archer turned the tide Maddock's way with wins over Dave Williams and Bill France respectively only for Dave Dudley to rescue a second point for the Bayley with a fine 51-40 final frame success over Tony O'Neil.

Bayley C also let a promising start fade to an eventual 3-2 defeat as they entertained Little Dawley B who had Paul Cottey to thank for a 44-21 deciding frame victory over Mike Healey.

Jim Lewis had earlier given the Bayley the lead with a 47-29 win over Rob Barlow but the visitors rallied with Steve Ward and Ray Clemence getting the better of Chris Haycox and Craig Johnson.

And although Ian Johnson drew the home side level by beating Craig Darrock 67-39 the night belonged to Phil Cottey who sealed a fine 3-2 win for the Little Dawley boys.

Neil Robinson's 42-28 win over Mick Guest gave Minnesota Fats C the lead against Shifnal D but the visitors soon levelled through Terry Askew's 58-22 defeat of Bob Lane.

It was then nip and tuck all the way as Tom Firmstone gave Fats the lead again only for Geoff French to pull Shifnal level once more with a 43-27 success over Dave Welsh.

A close finale was almost certainly going to ensue - and Toby Welsh did not disappoint his team-mates as he narrowly squeezed home by 54 points to 43 to deny Mick Smith and secure a 3-2 win for the home team.

STEVE FLETCHER

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

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