It was a case of ninth time unlucky for the only two teams in the Telford Snooker League (sponsored by Romeo & Juliets) yet to lose a match as both Maddocks A in the first division and their third division counterparts Maddocks D both suffered 3-2 defeats.

The Foundrymen’s A side faced their toughest test of the season as they entertained reigning champions Anstice A and although the result ultimately went in favour of the visitors a 3-2 scoreline will not have harmed Maddocks’ chances of finishing in the top two too badly.

Maddocks D’s hopes of extending their unbeaten start came crashing down when they fell to a surprising 3-2 reverse away at Newport British Legion B.

As a result Maddocks’ lead at the top of the third division table is cut to just a single point as all three Bayley sides occupying positions two to four in the table all produced 4-1 wins.

Their result away to an improving Newport side could have been better had they not lost two of the games by a single point. As it was the Newport boys celebrated their fourth win of the season with a stirring display which saw them come from behind twice to win by the odd frame.

Mick Wincott gave Maddocks D the start they were craving with a 40-22 defeat of Nigel Simpson only for Manjit Gidda to level matters with a black ball finish against Roy Adams.

Fred Spragg restored the visitor’s lead by beating Keith Gardner 53-19 but the home side had the final say by taking the last two frames of the evening.

Alan Davies’ 53-52 defeat of Mick Lucas preceded a 62-41 win for Mike Doverskog over Brendan Wincott as Newport succeeded where so many other teams have failed this season.

Maddocks’ slip left the door open for the chasing pack and the three Bayley sides challenging for promotion all did their prospects a power of good by securing 4-1 wins.

Bayley B and Bayley F have a share of second place - a point behind Maddocks – with Bayley D just two points further back in fourth place.

Bayley B came from behind to record their sixth win of the campaign after Dave Barnett Senior had given Hadley A the lead with a 56-25 win over Kelvin McLeod.

Chris Haycox levelled matters with an 80-46 success over S Dicken Senior and further wins from Danny Oliver and Dickie Beddall put the home side well and truly in the driving seat.

A close final frame went the Bayley’s way too when Alan Wheatley got the better of Rich Goldie 63-55 to complete a super 4-1 win for the Wellington side.

Bayley F also won four out of the five frames on offer when they made the trip to play Minnesota Fats C.

A tight opening frame went the visitor’s way when young Tom Maxfield defeated Bob Lane 48-34 and the Bayley went further ahead when Tom’s dad Paul won an even closer frame 42-31 against Grenville Thompson.

The trend continued in the third frame as yet another close finish saw Chris Shaw edge his way to victory against Tom Firmstone 52-41 and the home side knew it wasn’t going to be their night when Andy Summers made it 4-0 on a re-spotted black against Dave Welsh.

They did gain some consolation however as Toby Welsh’s 54-46 success over Eddie Whitehead prevented the whitewash and gave Minnesota a deserved point.

Bayley D have jumped into the promotion frame with two very useful results in the last couple of weeks.

A 5-0 win over Wellington Billiard Hall F the previous week was followed by a 4-1 win over Shifnal D as they made it nine points from a possible ten.

Craig Whitehead opened the scoring for the Bayley and although Sanjay Chauhan drew Shifnal level with a 20 break on the way to defeating Dave Williams 69-43 it was the visitors who finished the stronger – taking all three of the remaining frames.

Captain Darren Rhoades restored their lead with a 66-46 success over Geoff French and further wins from Brian Aberdeen and Dave Dudley means that former captain Steve Lane will have difficulty in forcing his way back into contention when he returns after missing the last couple of matches.

There is now four points separating fourth placed Bayley D and Anstice B after the Madeley side moved up to fifth spot on the back of a 4-1 win at Wellington Billiard Hall B.

Danny Weaver and Stew Wimbush were in fine form early on for the visitors. Their opening frame victories over Kevan Murr and Danny Francis paving the way to Anstice’s fifth win of the campaign.

Kevin Whitehead’s black ball finish against Mick Cahill rescued a point for the home side but it was all they could muster as John Darrock and Steve Smallwood completed a good night’s work by the visitors.

Wellington Billiard Hall’s F side fared only slightly better than their B team counterparts as they fell to a 3-2 reverse at home to Little Dawley B.

Garry Clements’ opening frame victory over Pete Smith was cancelled out by Rob Cook’s win over Craig Darrock.

Steve Weatherall put the Billiard Hall in front with a close 51-42 success over Simon Evans but it was the visitors who finished the stronger with Tom Wotherspoon and Rob Barlow seeing off Richard Tranter and Chris Fletcher respectively.

DIVISION 1

The clash of the day in division 1 saw title-chasing Maddocks A take on reigning champions – and current first division leaders – Anstice A.

Maddocks started the day as the only unbeaten team in the division and set about protecting that record as Ian Eldridge took the first frame on the black against Neil Price.

Reigning individual champion Phil Davies looked to be in a good position to become the first player to defeat Anstice captain Ian Duffy this season – but crucially miscued with his break on 28. Ian took full advantage to knock in a run of 31 to secure his ninth win of the season as Anstice drew level.

Keith Price potted a great long green before clearing the rest of the colours for a 65-48 win over Ian Skelton to give the Madeley side the lead before some fine safety play allowed Noel Stones to take the next frame against Darren Wincott to give Anstice an unassailable 3-1 lead.

However the home side had the final say when Leigh France sunk a long pink into the yellow pocket for a 57-39 win over Nick Oakley to leave Maddocks second in the table ahead of Minnesota Fats A who are having their best season for some time.

The Cannongate team never looked back after John Wright’s 67-47 win over Ian Ferriday gave them the lead against Coddon A as they recorded their best win of the season by taking all five points against the highly-fancied Donnington side. Steve Collins made no mistake against Lee Szklarzewicz in the next and an excellent 54-38 win for Jamie Morris over former county champion Zenon Lembicz put the home side firmly in control.

Worse was to follow for the visitors as Keith Blackham made it 4-0 with a fine 63-34 success over visiting captain Dave Lloyd and with Paul Devey claiming the fifth frame as well – 73-39 against Adrian Smith – the home side now look well-placed to challenge for honours.

Like Minnesota Bayley E now have a total of 26 points following their 3-2 win over Shifnal A.

Andy O’Brien set them on their way with a good opening frame win over Linsay Knox. The visitors soon levelled though as John Fallows rattled in a 37 break to deny Carl Owen and they went in front when Angus Way also notched a 30 break on the way to beating Steve Hoof.

However Ali Jones, who has only lost one out of his nine frames so far this season, drew the Bayley level with a fine win over Shifnal captain Andy Easthope.

And the home side scraped through to a fifth win of the season when John Squire completed a narrow 3-2 win by sinking the final black for a 64-57 win over Roy Martin.

Broseley A may have taken some time to reach the form they showed in claiming the runners-up spot last season – but they now look to be back in shape following a 5-0 whitewash of Shifnal B.

Graham Long took the first frame with a 31 break against John Powell. Richie Hulme and Carl Walker followed suit before Mick Brezwyn secured the fourth frame with a 35 break against Ray Evans.

And with Simon McLeod winning the final frame against Nigel Stallard by 67 points to 47 the home side still have a chance of repeating last season’s feat when they finished second.

A 43 break from former individual champion Adam Moore was he highlight of Anstice A’s 3-2 victory over Little Dawley A.

Adam’s second frame win over Jesse Lowe cancelled out Ade Henry’s first frame success for Little Dawley against Darren Wilkie.

Phil Reynolds then gave the home side the lead with a solid display against Rich Highway and Nigel Wallcroft made the match safe for the home side with a 58-23 success against Lee Elcock.

Darren Pountney’s final frame win over Andy Elliott left the final score 3-2 to the home side – the same scoreline that prevailed when Shifnal E beat Wellington Billiard Hall A.

Graham Darrall gave the Billiard Hall the perfect start with a 70-45 win over Aaron Sparkes only for Aaron’s dad Jeff to level matters with a close 73-64 win over Alan Turner.

A 49 break from Matt Davies saw him safely home against Alex Turnbull before another close frame went the home side’s way when Dave Peplow defeated John Rawlins 49-39.

However Shifnal were unable to extend their winning lead any further as Andy Kendrick claimed the final frame by 60 points to 31 against Chris Petford to leave Shifnal with a winning margin of just one frame.

DIVISION 2

Little Dawley G moved to within three points of second division leaders Maddocks B with a stunning five star performance at home to Wellington Billiard Hall C.

Darren Leneveu’s 58-45 win over Nick Turner set the scene and further wins from T Hill over Wayne Weeks and Graham Copson, who beat Graham Corten, saw the home side canter to a 3-0 lead.

There was nothing the visitors could do the stem the tide in the last two frames either as Ray Leneveu saw off John Price 59-32 and Ray Vickery completed the scoring with a good win over Arron O’Donnell.

Their win sees them hot on the heals of Bayley A who recorded a 3-2 win away at Anstice C.

Steve Nicholls gave the Bayley the lead but Steve Camp’s 65-31 win over Spencer Rowley levelled things up and the home side took the lead when Michael Musgrave took all of the colours before slotting home a super black after both he and Bob Mason had traded superb safety shots.

However Chris Morgan-Adams was in scintillating form to draw the Bayley level with a 30 plus break leaving Steve Fletcher to claim the decider for the Wellington side – who lie second in the table – two points ahead of Little Dawley G and a point behind Maddocks B who also won 3-2 at home to Minnesota Fats B.

Les Hicks’ 65-40 win over Neil Pearson gave Maddocks the lead and they increased their advantage courtesy of John Archer’s black ball finish against Rob Palin.

Wally Harper then made it 3-0 to the home side before the Cannongate outfit hit back through Mick Egan’s 71-34 victory over Doug Morrey.

Kirk Stephenson’s 52-33 success over Steve Pritchard in the final frame left Maddocks having to settle for just three points which keeps their one point lead at the top of the table intact.

Dawley B went one frame better as they trounced visitors Maddocks C by four frames to one.

Kev Jones set the wheels rolling as a 25 break helped him to defeat Maddocks skipper Graham Hoof 50-19.

Don Pugh followed suit with a pink ball win over Nev Whitehead and Gareth Jones then sealed the match with his 53-33 win over Dave Thomas.

Barry Roden then rubbed salt in the wounds as he clinched a pink ball frame from Jim Hill.

Foundryman Joe Oliver then relieved the threat of a whitewash by defeating Steve Hewitt. Things looked good for Joe as he lead by 23 points on the colours but Steve came back strongly to take all the colours only to see his white sail in off the final black.

Coddon C slip one place to fourth after losing out to their C side in the Donnington Derby.

The B side went ahead through Andy Jones’ 44-33 defeat of Fraser MacKinnon and a 23 break from Simon Yeats saw them open up a two-frame lead.

However Alan Hedgecock wasn’t going to let the B team have things all their own way and breaks of 30 and 19 saw him take the third frame against Mark Wall.

Steve Downs restored the B side’s two-frame advantage with a 55-29 win over Matt Bothwell only for Ray Whitehead to give the C team their second point with a 60-49 success over Phil Szklarzewicz.

STEVE FLETCHER    

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

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