Whilst most of the teams in the Telford Snooker League (sponsored by Romeo & Juliets) found themselves without a game last week, that wasn’t the case for the eight unlucky teams who found themselves having to play an extra “intermediary” round to reach the next stage of the cup competitions.

Indeed, three teams from Wellington’s Sir John Bayley Club found themselves thrust into the spotlight with the only other fixture taking place at Madeley’s Anstice Club.

Reigning League Champions Anstice A were one of those visitors to Wellington and found themselves pitched against an in-form Bayley D side who had dropped just one point from their last two division three games.

However the Madeley side have been no slouches themselves this year as they currently head the first division table and presently have one of the league’s top player’s Ian Duffy in scintillating form having already made a century break at the Bayley earlier in the season.

And it was Ian who set about eating into the Bayley’s 170-point handicap with a fine opening frame win over Craig Whitehead.

Ian’s 93-23 victory was just the start the visitors were hoping for but they were soon rocked back on their heals when home captain Darren Rhoades knocked in a 25 break on the way to drawing the next frame with Neil Price.

Anstice’s cause was helped by Keith Price’s 66-35 defeat of Dave Dudley before Nick Oakley got the better of Dave Williams by some 36 points to leave Brain Aberdeen protecting a slender 30 point lead going into the last frame against Noel Stones.

But it wasn’t to be the Wellington side’s night as Noel edged in front before finally securing victory for Anstice by just 13 points to maintain their hopes of a league and cup double.

They will be joined in the third round of the main cup competition by Bayley E who accounted third division Shifnal D.

Andy O’Brien took the first frame for the first division side by 85 points to 39 but the visitors replied through a brilliant performance by Sanjay Chauhan.

The Shifnal man took the next frame on the black for a 64-58 victory to deny Martin Watkins an opportunity to further reduce Shifnal’s 150-point handicap.

Steve Hoof’s 86-29 success over Arthur Aston did however do the Bayley’s chances a power of good before man of the match Ali Jones turned the game the Bayley’s way with a stunning display of potting to take the fourth frame by 106 points.

John Squire’s final frame win over Barrie Easthope ensured last season’s runners-up stayed on course for a possible return visit to the final.

Third division Bayley F moved into the third round of the Consolation Cup by winning four out of the five frames against fellow third division outfit Wellington Billiard Hall B.

The Billiard Hall side received just ten points start and soon found themselves trailing on aggregate after a super display from Tom Maxfield saw the home side move 53 points ahead overall.

Mike Healey’s 20 point winning margin over Kev Whitehead continued his side’s good start and they moved further in front through Paul Maxfield’s 65-25 victory over Alan Francis.

Eddie Whitehead’s 65-36 success against Roy Francis left the Billiard Hall’s Iain Atkinson with too much to recoup and his 66-21 defeat of Chris Shaw in the last wasn’t enough to deprive the Bayley of a place in the next round.

They will be joined in the hat by Shifnal A who made light of the hundred points start they were conceding to Anstice C by coming out comfortable winners in the final count.

John Fallows was in one of his potting moods as he rattled in pots from all over the table to wipe out the home side’s start on his own.

Further wins from Andy Easthope over Steve Camp and Linsay Knox over Michael Musgrave left the second division side with a mountain to climb.

And that mountain got even steeper when Angus Way took the next against Colin Westwood.

Dave Harper’s brave attempt in the final frame was never going to be enough to reverse the outcome of the match and although Dave only just lost out to former county Champion Simon Biddulph 47-37 it was the Shifnal boys who progressed to round three.

STEVE FLETCHER    

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

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