Captain Rick Bailey’s stunning final frame recovery saw his Dawley side complete the shock of the round as the Telford Snooker League Team Knockout competitions (sponsored by Dones Bookmakers) reached the quarter-final stage last week.

Rick’s side kept alive their hopes of a winning both the second division title and the Cup Knockout when they came from behind to defeat a Maddocks A side - who are currently favourites to take the runners-up spot in the Division 1 - on the final black.

A 31 break by Maddocks’ Ian Eldridge saw him take the opening frame against Chris Woods although the Dawley man will have been pleased with a solid display which limited Ian to a 55-47 winning margin.

Ian’s win reduced Dawley’s lead from their 70 points handicap down to 62 – and their lead was reduced by a similar margin when Phil Davis came out on top against Sean Nolan by 63 points to 55.

This was a game where both players were in good form with Sean notching a run of 31 and Phil replying with a 33 break. However with just 16 points being reclaimed from the opening two frames Maddocks needed to up their game if they were to overtake their opponents.

And up their game they did with Ian Skelton producing a fine display of potting to take the next 88-21 against the in-form Mark Jones. Dave France then piled on the pressure with another good win over Pete Nolan to leave Maddocks some 63 points in front with just one game remaining.

Now if Dawley had ever needed their captain to produce the form we all know he is capable of – this was it. And Rick Bailey didn’t disappoint his teammates with a stunning display which saw him hold his nerve to win a nail-biting encounter with Leigh France by 67 points to take the match on the final black with an aggregate winning margin of just four points overall.

Dawley will not have it easy in the semi-final though as they could face either Anstice A or Broseley A - the teams who finished winners and runners-up in the first division last term also made it through to the last four – as did another first division side, Shifnal E.

Reigning League Champions Anstice A were never in danger in the derby clash with their D team with Nick Oakley continuing his fine season with a 73-27 opening frame win over Stew Wimbush.

A good performance from John Darrock saw him lose out by just five points against potting machine Neil Price but the D side’s 190 point handicap began to look frail when Keith Price took the next frame in style against Mick Cahill.

Noel Stones followed up with a good win over George Hammond and the current first division leaders secured their place in the last four when Ian Duffy comfortably retrieved the 17 points deficit that remained as he started the final frame against Billy Watson to keep the Madeley side’s hopes of a League and Cup double well and truly alive.

Shifnal B were always going to find it tough as they entertained Broseley A with just 40 points start- but Nigel Stallard is always keen to impress his army of fans and set about his task in his usual steadfast manner.

Nigel’s play is acclaimed from afar – he even has a fan in America who regularly checks on his progress via the league’s web site. Sadly his mysterious fan will be disappointed to see that Nigel lost out by just seven points as the opening frame went to Broseley’s Graham Long by 54 points to 47.

That seven-point difference paled into insignificance as Richie Hulme produced a blistering display of potting to almost secure his side’s place in the semi-finals single-handedly.

Richie gave A Ali little chance and when Carl Walker took the third frame as well for Broseley with a 79-45 defeat of John Powell the home side’s hopes were beginning to fade fast.

Mick Brezwyn won a fourth frame for Broseley by beating Ray Evans 57-38 leaving Simon McLeod to wrap up a good night’s work with a 53-35 final frame win over M Shadab.

Shifnal E could prove to be the dark horses in this year’s competition as they saw off the challenge of cup specialists Coddon A by 313 points to 246.

Shifnal received 40 points start over their opponents – but that was soon overturned by a determined Ian Ferriday. Ian's 82-41 defeat of Chris Petford put the Donnington in front by a single point and they must have thought they were on the way to yet another semi-final when Lee Szklarzewicz got the better of Jeff Sparkes 83-27.

However Matthew Davies was yet again the Shifnal side’s ace in the pack. The former English Amateur champion is a match for any player in the country – and Adrian Smith can count himself somewhat unfortunate to find himself pitted against such a good opponent.

Matt’s stunning display turned the match Shifnal’s way and they entered the last two frames with an overall aggregate lead of 47 points.

That lead was then reduced – but only slightly – when Coddon captain Dave Lloyd got the better of Aaron Sparkes by just 3 points leaving Dave Peplow with a 44 point lead to protect as he took on former County Champion Zenon Lembicz.

Dave was in no mood to let his side down and a tight final frame went his way by 39 points to 15 to see Shifnal E safely through to the last four.

CONSOLATION CUP

Only two of the four quarter-final results are in from the Consolation Cup – and they both feature two of the title contenders for the second division championship.

Second division leaders Coddon B made it safely through to the last four with a comfortable win over third division leaders Maddocks D whilst Bayley A came out on top away to Little Dawley G.

Coddon B made light of the 40 points start they were conceding to Maddocks D as Andy Jones claimed the opening frame with a 52-30 win over Martin Wincott.

A superb performance from Simon Yeats and an equally impressive display from Mark Wall saw them comfortably account for Ken Davies and Roy Adams respectively leaving the visitors with a mountain to climb.

Brendan Wincott did give Maddocks some hope with a fine 49-25 success against Steve Downs but hope faded to despair when Phil Szklarzewicz wrapped up the final frame with a 65-31 win over Fred Spragg.

Coddon will be joined in the semi-finals by last year’s runners-up in the Consolation Cup, Bayley A.

The Wellington side were conceding 30 points start to Little Dawley G but they came out comfortable winners in the end.

Bob Mason laid the foundations with a superb performance against Darren Leneveu. Some fine safety play allied to some good potting earned Bob a 58-26 victory to put the Bayley two points ahead overall.

And they never looked back with Steve Nicholls in majestic form against Chris Leneveu opening up a good lead for the Wellington boys.

Graham Copson rolled in the final black to take the next for Little Dawley by seven points, but his 49-42 win over Spencer Rowley was to be his side’s only success as Chris Morgan-Adam’s 66-31 win over Roy Vickery meant Steve Fletcher began the final frame 109 points up.

Not even Steve could make a hash of this one – and the Bayley captain sneaked through to a 69-59 final frame victory over Roy Leneveu to see the Bayley into the last four for the second year running.

STEVE FLETCHER    

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

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