Neil and Keith Price are the new Telford Snooker League doubles champions. The Anstice pair lifted the title, which is sponsored by Oakengates Carpets, when they came from behind to beat the holders Ian Duffy and Matthew Davies in the final played at Maddocks last week.

Ian was determined not to let his grip on the trophy slip as he opened up with an early run of 29 as the holders took the opening frame by 63 points to nine.

They looked to be heading for a 2-0 lead as Ian was again on song in the next, rattling in an early 34 break only for the Madeley brothers to battle their way back into contention before finally clinching the frame 54-44 to level the match at one frame apiece.

Neil and Keith looked to be on their way to a comfortable win in the third frame only for Matt to fluke the last red to give him what seemed to be a frame winning opportunity. However the former English Amateur Champion ran out of position on the pink causing him to jaw the penultimate ball in the corner pocket.

It was a simple task for Keith to pot the pink to secure a 2-1 lead and the match seemed to be drifting away from the title-holders when Neil opened up the next frame with a run of 24.

And it wasn’t long before Neil and Keith put the seal on a tremendous victory as their opponents conceded the frame and match on the brown with the frame score at 67 points to 25.

Some old rivalries were renewed last week when Competitions Secretary Nigel Stallard took a team from Telford League to Comrades Club to play a team from the Bridgnorth League.

Several players from Bridgnorth used to play in the Telford League – indeed some of them still do – so it was nice for the players to have the chance to renew old friendships and to chat about old times.

Carl Walker turns out for Broseley in the Telford League but he was representing Bridgnorth when he took on Martin Watkins in the opening frame.

Martin soon found himself 30 points behind but an immaculate 31 break brought him right back into contention.

However an unlucky in off proved his downfall as Carl potted the pink to take the first frame for the home side by 62 points to 53.

Aaron Sparkes was unable to halt Bridgnorth’s progress as he fell to a 47-13 defeat at the hands of Pete Williams before another Broseley player, Graham Long, made it 3-0 with a black ball victory over Ray Evans.

Ray’s run of 37 failed to stem the tide and the visitors from Telford fell further behind when Paul Manning – who represented Bayley A in the early nineties – defeated league secretary Alan Turner by a single point.

There was some joy for Telford when Andy Kendrick defeated Mick Brezwyn 73-59 but Steve Fletcher’s defeat at the hands of Bill Meredith plunged the visitors into a six frames to one deficit.

However with a return match set for May 5th at the Bayley Club, the Telford boys were looking to bring themselves back into contention – so it was fitting that a Bayley man should start their revival.

Chris Morgan-Adams potted in his usual flamboyant style to secure a 56-26 win over Chris Lewis who many will remember from the days when Comrades Club had a team in the Telford league.

John Rawlins pulled another frame back with a 51-38 win over Tim Westwood and the tide seemed to have turned Telford’s way when Spencer Rowley defeated Dave Postings 56-26.

Jeff Sparkes’ 55-28 defeat of Mark Jones meant that Telford’s comeback was almost complete as the frame scores were now level at five frames all and with Nigel Stallard producing a heroes performance in the decider – defeating Simon Thomas 55-26 – the visitors were left in good heart for the return match in a couple of week’s time.

Meanwhile at the Bayley club in Wellington, a Telford B side led by Little Dawley’s Ade Henry were taking on Bridgnorth B side.

Garry Clements and Lee Elcock led the way as Telford opened up a 2-0 lead on the way to an 8-5 victory.

Garry’s 79-39 success over Derek Webb was matched by Lee who beat Ross Moorcroft 83-33 and the home side went further ahead when Jesse Lowe beat David Cooke 68-23.

Matt Lunn put Bridgnorth’s first point on the board when he defeated Phil Cottey 78-47 and the visitors took the next frame as well when Steve Shakespeare beat Darren Wilkie by 68 points to 37.

Kevin Smith’s 45-13 defeat of Simon Evans saw Bridgnorth draw level at three frames all and they went in front when Colin Ellingham defeated James Evans 61-41.

Byron Mitchell put Telford back on track with a solid 60-25 success over Stuart West and they increased their lead through Graham Wiley’s 59-21 victory over Dave Jones.

Owen Hughes’ 64-25 defeat of Little Dawley’s Colin Gittus proved to be only a temporary respite for Bridgnorth as Telford reeled off the last three frames to take the match by eight frames to five.

Ade Henry produced a captain’s performance to deny Anthony Westwood 59-43 before John Elcock got the better of Mark Kirk 49-30 and Lee Elcock, playing his second frame of the night, defeated Morris Fellows 70-43.

A return match is also due to be played by the respective B sides at the Comrades Club in Bridgnorth on Wednesday May 5th at 7.30pm.

STEVE FLETCHER    

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

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