Ian Duffy’s magnificent run of seventeen consecutive victories came to an end last week when he was pipped at the post by Shifnal’s John Fallows as title favourites Anstice A fell to a rare defeat in division 1 of the Telford Snooker League (sponsored by Romeo and Juliets).

The Anstice captain had remained unbeaten all through the season but his hopes of completing all 22 matches undefeated were dashed by a superb performance from his opponent who cleared the last three colours to take the fourth frame by a single point.

John Fallows was understandably delighted to have avenged his defeat by Ian in the corresponding fixture earlier in the season and his 49-48 victory drew Shifnal A level at two frames all after Anstice had taken two of the first three frames.

Neil Price made no mistake against Linsay Knox as the champions looked set to record what would have been a seventeenth win of the season.

However Shifnal had other ideas and Angus Way’s 48-16 success against Keith Price levelled matters before the super-consistent Nick Oakley completed a fine win over Andy Easthope to record his fifteenth win this term.

John Fallow’s triumphant performance against Ian Duffy made it all square again and set the scene for a nail-biting climax.

Former County Champion Simon Biddulph took on Noel Stones in an epic encounter which ended once again in a black ball shootout. And once again it was the Shifnal man who sank the final ball to complete a super 3-2 win as the side currently in third place inflicted only a second defeat of the season over the champions-elect.

Second-placed Maddocks A soon got over the disappointment of last week’s cup defeat by taking all five points from their away trip to Shifnal B.

Ian Eldridge took the opening frame against John Powell with a 25 break and Darren Wincott increased their lead with a run of 35 completing a 67-45 win over A Ali.

Phil Davis and Ian Skelton wasted no time against Ray Evans and Nigel Stallard respectively as they moved the match score onto 4-0 and Leigh France’s 62-26 final frame win over M Shadab completed the whitewash.

Despite their heroics Maddocks still find themselves eleven points off the lead and with only four matches remaining time is running out if they are to overtake Anstice A into top spot.

Nonetheless the five points gained increased their lead over Shifnal A who are third to some 12 points and the Oakengates side now look certain to claim runners-up spot.

Coddon A’s challenge for second place dwindled when they fell to a 3-2 defeat at home to Bayley A.

The Wellington side had Martin Watkins on hand to give them the lead with a close 56-46 win over Ian Ferriday and they went further in front when Andy O’Brien got the better of Zenon Lembicz 58-39.

Adrian Smith pulled a frame back for Coddon with a fine 60-49 success over Steve Hoof and they drew level soon afterwards thanks to captain Dave Lloyd’s 76-33 defeat of Ali Jones which included a break of 36.

And with the home side unable to field a fifth man the deciding frame went to the visitors who join Coddon on 44 points but have won three matches fewer.
Last year’s runners-up Broseley A consolidated their position in mid-table with a 3-2 win over a Wellington Billiard Hall A side keen to gather together as many points as possible as they attempt to avoid the drop to division two.

John Rawlins gave the home side the perfect start with a 74-37 win over Graham Long but the next three frames all went Broseley’s way.

Richie Hulme turned the tide with a 66-35 defeat of Graham Darrell and although the Billiard Hall’s Alan Turner started the next frame with a run of 32 it wasn’t enough to prevent Carl Walker taking the frame 72-35 to put Broseley 2-1 ahead.

A 42 break from Mick Brezwyn gave Alex Turnbull little chance as the visitors extended their lead only for Andy Kendrick to claim what could prove to be a vital point for the Billiard Hall with a fine 54-32 final frame win over Simon McLeod.

The Billiard Hall’s lead over second-from-bottom Anstice D has however been cut to just one point as the Madeley side began their push for first-division survival with a stunning 4-1 win over Minnesota Fats A.

Adam Moore built on Darren Wilkie’s 60-30 victory over Jon Wright when he weighed in with a 34 break against Steve Collins to give the home side a 2-0 cushion.

Andy Elliott made it 3-0 with a 68-25 success over Jamie Morris before the visitors hit back through Paul Devey’s 61-38 defeat of Phil Reynolds.

However with Nigel Wallcroft claiming a fourth for the Anstice by beating Keith Blackham 67-44 the Madeley side ensured that the relegation battle is well and truly on as they lie just a point adrift of the Billiard Hall and three behind Shifnal E who won 3-2 away to Little Dawley A.

Matt Davies can always be relied on to bring home the bacon and he didn’t let his teammates down with a 68-32 opening frame win over Ade Henry.

Jeff Sparkes added to Little Dawley’s woes when he beat Rich Heighway to make it 2-0 but the home side responded in some style with Lee Elcock rattling in breaks of 37 and 35 on the way to reducing the deficit against Rob Wright.

Darren Pountney’s black ball finish against Aaron Sparkes, made all the more remarkable as he needed snookers at one point, forced the decider however any hopes Little Dawley had of completing the fight back were soon dashed by a stirring performance by the “Rock” himself Dave Peplow.

Dave coolly secured the final frame by beating another stalwart of the Telford League Jesse Lowe to leave both sides on the fringes of the relegation battle.

DIVISION 2

The lead at the top of the Second Division seems to be changing hands each week. And this week it’s the turn of Dawley A to head the table after a fantastic display at home to Minnesota Fats B saw them take all five points.

Chris Woods led Kirk Stevenson by 14 points as the opening frame came down to the colours but any hopes Kirk had were soon dashed as Chris cleared all six colours to give Dawley a lead they would never surrender.

Pete Nolan’s 62-40 win over Mick Egan made it 2-0 and Mark Jones piled on more pressure with a 69-20 success over Rob Palin.

A 35 break saw Rick Bailey home against Mick Pearson leaving Sean Nolan to wrap up a crucial five pointer for the side relegated from the top flight last term by beating Neil Pearson 62-48.

Coddon B move into second spot on the back of a 3-2 win over Maddocks B. But they had to come from behind after Wally Harper gave the visitors the lead with a 53-34 win over Andy Jones.

Mark Wall’s 64-33 triumph over Doug Morrey squared things up and the Donnington boys took the lead when Nick Pearce edged out Les Hicks 64-25.

Noel White hit back again for Maddocks when he took the fourth frame against Steve Downs only for Phil Szklarzewicz to take a close deciding frame 47-39 against Maddocks captain John Archer to leave Coddon a point ahead of Bayley A who dropped two valuable points as they entertained Dawley B.

Lloyd Hewitt gave the visitors an early lead when he sank blue and pink to defeat Steve Nicholls 49-31 but the Wellington side were on level terms soon afterwards as Chris Morgan-Adams got the better of Barry Roden on the blue.

Another close frame went the home side’s way when Arthur Burrows put them 2-1 up with a 46-37 win over Steve Hewitt but Dawley B did their A team a favour when they took another frame from the title chasing Bayley side courtesy of Don Pugh’s excellent win over Spencer Rowley.

The Dawley man may have potted them off the lampshades to win his side’s second point but the Bayley claimed the decider through Steve Fletcher’s final frame victory over Alex Jones to leave the Wellington side in third spot two points behind leaders Dawley A.

Maddocks C lie one place and six points further back following a superb win at home to Coddon C.

The Donnington side returned from their clash with the Iron boys with just a solitary point as their opponents were in fine fettle.

Coddon took their only point from the first frame that lasted over an hour and inevitably went to a black ball finish when Don Bayliss fought back well to beat Maddocks skipper Graham Hoof.

Nev Whitehead then became the inspiration his team needed when he knocked in a delightful 52 break against Fraser Mackinnon which only ended when he saw the pink hang in the jaws of the pocket with perfect position on the last red - thus leaving Bayley player Steve Fletcher's highest break of 62 in tact.

Colin Smith then followed up with some of his old potting form to beat Alan Hedgecock 62-39 and Jim Hill wrapped the match up with a win over Matt Bothwell 63-31.

Steadfast Joe Oliver then notched up the fourth point by overcoming Ray Whitehead 57-18 to leave Maddocks with an outside chance of challenging for promotion.

Wellington Billiard Hall C also won all but one of the five frames on offer when they produced one of their best displays of the season against Little Dawley C.

However they did ride their luck somewhat with three of their four victories being settled on the final black.

Craig Davies led the way with a black ball finish against Graham Wiley although the visitors drew level when John Bowen cleared the last four colours to defeat James Price 65-41.

That was to be Little Dawley’s only success though as Wayne Weeks took the next 52-46 against Colin Gittus and Sean Parks defeated Steve Farrington 38-33.

And with the visitors unable to field a last man the Billiard Hall moved to within a point of second-from-bottom Anstice D as they strive to retain their second division status.

DIVISION 3

Maddocks D’s lead at the top of division three has been cut to just a single point after Bayley F took all five points against Newport British Legion whilst the Oakengates side could only manage a 3-2 win at home to Wellington Billiard Hall F.

Young Tom Maxfield was in sensational form to give the Bayley just the start they wanted against Alan Davies and the Wellington side doubled their lead when Chris Shaw defeated Manjit Gidda 58-33.

Breaks of 34 and 22 ensured Eddie Whitehead of the third frame against Daren Edwards and further wins for Paul Maxfield and Andy Summers, who beat Les Stirling on the black, completed a fine win for the title-chasing Bayley side.

Maddocks D will be looking over their shoulder having seen their lead at the top reduced to a single point as they failed to gain maximum points from a determined Wellington Billiard Hall F.

Mick Wincott’s superb opening frame victory over Pete Smith saw him survive a 24 break by his opponent as Maddocks took an early lead.

A close 50-41 win for Ken Davies over Steve Weatherall saw Maddocks move two frames ahead but their charge was halted when Paul Spencer claimed the third frame for the Billiard Hall with a 50-26 success against Roy Adams.

Fred Spragg’s 49-29 victory over Rob Cook ensured the Oakengates outfit of a crucial fifteenth win of the season – three more than rivals Bayley F – but they were unable to add to their tally as Chris Fletcher stole another point for the visitors with a 57-22 final frame win over Brendan Wincott.

Bayley D remain in third place after they also dropped two frames as they entertained Bayley B.

Bob Tracy sunk the final black to deny “home” captain Darren Rhoades a winning start as the B string took the lead.

Craig Whitehead soon levelled though for the D team as a 29 break proved to be the difference in his second frame victory over Chris Haycox.

Dave Williams’ 49-29 defeat of Dickie Beddall saw the D team take the lead only to be pegged back once more through Dickie Oliver’s 44-15 win over Brian Aberdeen.

However the D side did secure their twelfth win of the season thanks to anchor-man Dave Dudley’s narrow 56-48 deciding frame victory over Danny Oliver to leave the D side with a mountain to climb if they are to make up the six points difference between them and leaders Maddocks D.

Anstice B move up to fourth after a resounding 5-0 win away to Hadley A. Stew Wimbush was once again in exceptional form with a 51-37 opening frame win over Stuart Dicken. Steve Smallwood and Mick Cahill followed suit against Shane Dicken and Rich Goldie respectively and further wins for George Hammond over Andy Barnett and Billy Watson, who beat Dave Barnett 54-24, completed the whitewash.

Little Dawley B almost claimed all five points as well when they entertained Wellington Billiard Hall B however they had to settle for a 4-1 win after Roy Francis took the fourth frame 47-26 against Simon Evans.

Garry Clements had earlier set the mood when he became only the second player this season to get the better of Kev Whitehead. Garry’s 49-28 win gave Little Dawley the lead and they soon found themselves three frames to the good as Phil Cottey and Tom Wotherspoon were also on target.

And with Rob Barlow rounding things off with a fine win over Alan Francis the Little Dawley outfit were left to celebrate an excellent night’s work.

Minnesota Fats C were also victorious as they emerged from their encounter with Shifnal D with a 3-2 win.

Bob Lane’s opening frame victory over Terry Askew couldn’t have been much closer though as the Minnesota player’s 49-46 victory was only confirmed on the final black. Sanjay Chauhan once again came up trumps for Shifnal as he levelled matters with a 59-22 win over Toby Welsh and the visitors then took the lead when Ivor Peplow won another black ball game 36-27 to deny Dave Welsh.

Neil Robinson’s 67-49 defeat of Barrie Easthope was also a close-run thing as Minnesota levelled the match at two frames all but Tom Firmstone was determined not to have such a nail-biting finish as he took the decider 66-24 from Geoff French to record his side’s ninth win of the season.

STEVE FLETCHER    

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

Return To Top