Shifnal E were crowned cup kings of the Telford Snooker League last week when they defeated newly crowned league champions Anstice A in the final of the Telford Snooker League Team Knockout (sponsored by Dones Bookmakers).

In the final at Wellington’s Sir John Bayley Club, the Shifnal side made full use of their 80 points handicap to run out comfortable winners in the end - winning three out of the five frames en-route to a 381 to 242 victory.

Their 80 point start was soon whittled down to just 36 points however as Ian Duffy claimed the first frame against Jeff Sparkes with the aid of a 38 break.

Aaron Sparkes then turned the tables on the league champions with a super display as he fended off the in-form Nick Oakley to give Shifnal the edge. Nick has been playing some excellent snooker this year but was a little out of sorts as Aaron took the frame 76-22 to increase his side’s aggregate lead to 88 points.

Shifnal took the next frame as well to put them in touching distance of lifting the coveted trophy when former English Amateur Champion Matt Davies overcame Neil Piece by 68 points to 35 to give Shifnal a 121 point margin with just two games remaining.

And although Keith Price all-but halved the deficit for Anstice with a fine 85-25 success over Chris Petford it was Shifnal who emerged triumphant as “The Rock” Dave Peplow opened up an early 33 lead against Noel Stones before comfortably taking the frame to seal victory for his teammates.

One of those teammates was unable to attend the final due to the fact that he had been selected to referee at the recent European under 19 tournament in Northampton.

Shifnal E’s “Director of Snooker” Rob Wright was also chosen to officiate at the final of the prestigious event so with his team lifting the knockout trophy as well Rob had plenty to be happy about last week.

That wasn’t the case however for the Shifnal club’s A side as they found themselves on the wrong end of 344 – 278 scoreline when they took on Coddon B in the final of the Consolation Cup at Maddocks.

The Donnington side completed a rare double as they added the knockout trophy to the division two title they clinched a week earlier – and they did so in style by winning three out of the five frames.

Steve Downs set about adding to Coddon’s 60-point handicap in explosive style as he rattled in an early 50 break before missing a pink into the middle which gave opponent Linsay Knox a glimmer of hope.

And a glimmer was all Linsay needed as he fought back valiantly to eventually take the frame for Shifnal by 77 points to 67 to reduce Coddon’s lead to 50 points overall.

Having travelled up from Aylesbury to play in the final, Shifnal’s John Fallows found that he was somewhat jetlagged as he fell to a 42-36 defeat at the hands of Mark Wall and Coddon continued to pile on the pressure when Andy Jones got the better of Shifnal captain Andy Easthope 80-43 to put his side in the driving seat.

And there they stayed with Phil Szklarzewicz defeating Angus Way by a single point leaving Simon Biddulph with too much to do against Simon Yeats.

Although the Shifnal man took the frame 67-39 it was never enough to deprive Coddon of a memorable victory in what for them has been a very successful season.

Earlier in the week at Shifnal, Broseley’s Mick Brezwyn lifted the Over 40’s trophy with a 3-1 victory over former holder Ian Ferriday of Coddon.

Both players played some good safety and potted well and it was the Donnington man who won the first frame when he potted the blue to leave Mick requiring a snooker.

Mick levelled the match at one frame all before both players found themselves in the middle of a party atmosphere as a function in the next room meant they had to play the rest of the match in tune with the music blaring and people dancing.

However it was Mick who was first into his rhythm as he knocked in a 33 break to make it 2-1 and he was clearly on song as he took the fourth frame too with a run of 23 to clinch the title by 4 frames to 1.

At the other end of the age spectrum, Maddock’s Ian Eldridge retained his under 21 title with a 3-1 win over Chris Ward finalist Darren Wincott.

A 31 break sealed the first frame for Ian but Darren, who like Ian plays for Maddock’s first team, hit back with runs of 18 and 26 to take the second frame 64-41.

Unperturbed, Ian rattled in another 30 plus break to take the next 70-39 before another run of 30 secured the all-important fourth frame by 81 points to 38 after Darren had also contributed a run of 24.

Ian finished the match off in style by knocking in a delightful 54 break to retain the title and he looks in good shape for the final of the West Midland Under 21 on May 5th having reached the final at his very first attempt.

STEVE FLETCHER    

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

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