A magnificent century break from Anstice A’s Ian Duffy set the seal on a some fantastic snooker as he lifted the Division 1 individual title with a 2-0 win over Madeley teammate Neil Price in the final at Wellington’s Sir John Bayley club last week.

There were just two reds remaining as Ian’s break reached 92 and with one of those reds awkwardly positioned on the side cushion Ian made certain of the century by calmly potting the penultimate red before reaching the magical hundred mark by rolling the black into the corner pocket.

In the semi-final Ian got the better of Wellington Billiard Hall’s John Rawlins whilst Neil saw off the challenge of Bayley E’s Andy O’Brien.

Not content with recording the season’s first century break Ian then went on to help his Anstice A side record a stunning win over one of their closest rivals for the Division 1 title - Coddon A.

The Donnington side started the day a point ahead of their opponents at the top of the table so a highly charged atmosphere was expected as they made the trip to Madeley.

However few sparks were flying early on as a power cut put the match in some doubt so the home side were relieved when the lights came on and they were able to put their opponents in the shade with an electrifying display which saw them take all five points.

Neil Price won a close opening frame 63-40 against Lee Szklarzewicz and after his heroics the previous night it was no shock when Ian Duffy rattled in a 38 break to take the next frame from Zenon Lembicz.

Keith Price followed suit with a good win over Terry Brenthall before Noel Stones continued the trend with a high scoring 78-55 win over visiting captain Dave Lloyd.

And with Nick Oakley completing the whitewash with a 38 break in his 82-49 success over Ian Ferriday the home side were able to leapfrog over Coddon into first place in the table – a point ahead of Maddocks A who maintained their own unbeaten start to the season with a 5-0 win over Wellington Billiard Hall A.

Phil Davis potted well to overcome some stubborn resistance from Mick Hughes by 61 points to 45 and Ian Eldridge put the home side two up by defeating League Secretary Alan Turner.

Leigh France then came from behind to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat obtaining the snookers he required before sinking the last three colours for a 70-61 win over John Rawlins and Darren Wincott staved off another brave comeback to see off Andy Kendrick to put Maddocks four frames up.

Home captain Dave France ensured his side remain in the chase for honours when he claimed the last frame on the brown against Graham Darrall to leave Maddocks a point behind leaders Anstice A and three points ahead of Bayley E who suffered a rare defeat at home to Anstice D.

The Madeley side had Darren Wilkie in fine form early on as he took the opening frame against Martin Watkins on the black.

The Bayley side are no strangers to success though and last season’s second division champions rallied as Steve Hoof levelled matters with a 69-39 defeat of Andy Elliott.

The visitors wouldn’t lie down though and duly restored their lead courtesy of Phil Reynolds’ victory over Karl Owen before parity was once again restored through Ali Jones who notched a 36 break on the way to defeating John Jones 79-57.

But the visitors had the last laugh as Nigel Wallcroft claimed the deciding frame with a 70-36 win over John Squire to clinch only their second win of the season.

Shifnal A’s run of four successive 3-2 victories came to an end when they were beaten the odd frame as they entertained the Memorial Club’s B side.

The A string looked in good form early on as Chris Painter took the first frame from John Powell but the B side soon levelled as A Ali took the next against Andy Easthope.

John Fallows restored the “home” side’s lead only for Ray Evans and Nigel Stallard – the latter on a re-spotted black against Linsay Knox – to turn the match Shifnal B’s way.

Last season’s runners-up Broseley A are struggling to find the consistency that saw them challenge for the title last year – but they did secure their second win of the new campaign when they entertained Shifnal E.

Aaron Sparkes’ black ball win over Richie Hulme gave Shifnal the lead and they nearly doubled that advantage only for Mick Brezwyn to snatch another close frame 67-52 from Jeff Sparkes.

Matt Davies survived a good performance from Carl Walker to restore the visitor’s lead when he took frame three by some 56 points to 33 but Graham Long and Simon McLeod’s victories over Dave Peplow and Rob Edmunds respectively ensured that Broseley returned to winning ways.

Minnesota Fats A also recorded a second win of the season when they took all but one of the frames on offer against Little Dawley A.

Paul Devey and Steve Collins lead the way with wins over Richie Heighway and Rick Cousins respectively and things got better for the home side when Jamie Morris defeated Jesse Lowe 51-32 to make it 3-0.

Steve Osborn’s fine win over Lee Elcock made it four on the bounce before Ade Henry stopped the rot with a good win over Kev West.

DIVISION 2

Coddon B are now clear leaders of Division 2 following a 4-1 win at home to Dawley B.

Don Bayliss led the way with a 31 break against Kev Jones only for the league newcomers to hit back through Barry Roden’s narrow 48-35 success over Fraser Mackinnon

However the visitors were unable to follow Barry’s lead as Alan Hedgecock restored Coddon’s lead with a 52-42 win over D Carr and further wins from Sef Tusel and Ray Whitehead ensured the Donnington side opened up a one point lead over Dawley A at the top of the table.

Dawley, relegated from the top flight last term, look set for a quick return to division 1 after taking all five points from their home clash with Coddon B.

Sean Nolan was in devastating form rattling in runs of 30 and 31 to take the opening frame against Andy Jones.

Chris Woods and Pete Nolan followed suit before Rick Bailey took the fourth with a 37 break against Simon Yeats.

Mark Jones completed the whitewash with an excellent win over the in-form Phil Szklarzewicz to leave Dawley A well placed in the promotion race – a point ahead of both Maddocks teams who came face to face last week.

Local derbies are renowned for being close affairs and Maddocks D’s home clash against the Oakengates club’s C team was no exception as the D string ran out a 3-2 winners.

Doug Morrey drew first blood as he clinched the first frame on the pink against Joe Oliver to give the B side the lead.

Wally Harper continued the trend by beating C team skipper Graham Hoof before veteran Les Hicks proved he is still a fine player by clinching the match by outpotting Nev Whitehead for a score of 68 -36.

Jim Hill then decided enough was enough and put the C team back in the game with a brown ball win over John Archer and Colin Smith then produced some excellent safety play against Steve Pritchard which proved fruitful in the end as he rescued another vital point for the visitors.

Bayley A also won by the odd frame when they travelled to Little Dawley G and came away with their third win of the campaign.

Bob Mason was left ruing his luck as he potted a superb long pink only to see the white cannon into the black, knocking it into the pocket to leave him requiring a snooker against Roy Leneveu.

Roy’s 71-48 win gave Little Dawley the lead and they soon doubled their advantage when Roy Vickery knocked in a 26 break to deny Arthur Burrows.

Steve Fletcher pulled a frame back for the visitors with a 49 break against Darren Leneveu and they drew level when Spencer Rowley potted yellow to pink to defeat Graham Copson 59-40.

That left Chris Morgan-Adams, to complete the comeback with a good win over Chris Leneveu as the Bayley maintained their mid-table position with 13 points – the same as Minnesota Fats B who beat bottom-of-the-table Billiard Hall E by four frames to one.

Nick Turner gave the Wellington side the lead with a fine 56-24 success over Rob Palin but it was all downhill from then on as the home side took control.

Mick Pearson and Mick Egan turned the match around before Kirk Stephenson and Neil Pearson – the latter with a 33 break – defeated James Price and Aaron O’Donnell respectively.

DIVISION 3

With no result in this week for leaders Maddocks D, Bayley B have been able to jump to the top of the third division table on the back of a 3-2 win over Minnesota Fats C.

Danny Oliver won a close tussle with Mike Thompson to steal the first frame 57-45 and Alan Wheatley put the home side two up as the Bayley started brightly.

They continued to shine as Dick Oliver’s 48-24 win over Toby Welsh put them three frames up only for the wheels to come off somewhat as Dave Welsh played superbly to retrieve a frame for Minnesota with a brilliant 71-42 success over Dickie Beddall.

Neil Robinson’s 45-33 win over Chris Haycox salvaged another point for the visitors and left the Bayley in joint first place on 16 points along with both Maddocks D and Bayley F who recorded a 4-1 win away to Shifnal D.

Eddie Whitehead got the better of Terry Askew to give the Wellington side the lead before young Tom Maxfield claimed the next 53-27 against Sanjay Chauhan.

Chris Shaw made it three in a row before the home side had something to cheer when Barry Easthope beat Paul Maxfield on the final black 70-63.

However Mike Healey’s 59-25 defeat of George Nelson added to the home side’s woes and kept the Bayley well placed for another assault on the title.

Bayley D’s hopes of moving up a division suffered another setback though as they were beaten 3-2 away at Anstice B.

Danny Weaver gave the home side the perfect start with a 57-31 success over Bill France before Darren Rhoades, who narrowly lost out to Dave Dudley in the final of the Division Three individual, returned to winning ways with a 57-46 over George Hammond.

Mick Cahill’s 65-33 success over Steve Lane and Steve Samllwood’s win over Dave Williams ensured the Anstice of their second win this season but any hopes they had of making it four points were soon dashed as newly crowned third division individual champion Dave Dudley got the better of home captain Stew Wimbush.

League newcomers Hadley A narrowly failed to post their first ever victory when they lost out by the odd frame to Little Dawley B.

The visitors took the lead when Phil Cottey just pipped Hadley’s D Barnett Junior on the black and another close frame went Little Dawley’s way when T Wotherspoon beat R Goldie 58-46.

Rob Barlow’s victory over S Dicken made it three in a row for the men from Little Dawley but Hadley never gave up and took the last two frames through L Hayes and D Barnett Senior to leave the final score 3-2 to Little Dawley B.

STEVE FLETCHER    

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

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