| Seven weeks into our season now, and this week starting
in the third division the top two positions have changed as
Shifnal D become the new leaders of division three after a
resounding victory over Wellington Billiard Hall, who according
to the score lines, never looked like taking a point from
this encounter, and slipped a further two places down the
table.
Shifnal D’s main adversaries, Bayley D, visited Madeley
and knew that their match with Anstice B would be a tough
match, even though the Anstice lads started their season a
little slowly. Bayley didn’t realise of course that
they would be up against a team, who just a few seasons ago
graced the peaks of the first division. The scorecard could
have been picked from the archives of division one, the line
up being, Mick Reynolds, John Darrock, George Hammond, Mick
Cahill, and last but not least Noel Stones. The night started
well for the visitors when Craig Whitehead overcame John Darrock,
but only after trying to slam a ball in, to gain position
on another colour. This allowed John back in to the game making
the frame a lot more difficult to win. Mick Reynolds ominously
popped in a twenty-three break, and although Darren Rhoades
dug in, Anstice had their first chalk on the table.
Dave Williams continued his impressive form with a 53-33
win over Mick Cahill to give Bayley a pleasing lead. With
the classy Noel Stones in anchor position, the fourth frame
had more importance to the outcome of the game. It looked
to be going the way of George Hammond who potted his way to
a comfortable lead, but his opponent Jim Lewis was tough to
shake off, and his tenacity clawed him back into the game.
After a super game of potting and safety play George Hammond,
undeservedly so, went in off the final black, making the frame
scores level. Brian Aberdeen played the final game against
Noel Stones and it would have been a false reflection of the
game if Anstice had not picked up the final point of the evening,
and Noel Stones duly delivered.
After the match, stand in captain Rhoades was cock a hoop
with his sides fighting performance, as Dave Dudley; the usual
captain was away on business. Dave will have to reach for
his night nurse now, as he will doubtless be having sleepless
nights wondering whom he can drop after this performance.
Dudley’s man management skills will now be tested for
the first time, but it’s a quandary he will be happy
to deal with after such a great team performance.
Bayley B were at home to Little Dawley J and also ended
with the same result, losing by the odd point in five. In
the closest frame of the evening James Evans had a 30 break
during the match and won the frame on the black.
Little Dawley X were away to Minnesota Fats C and emulated
their J teams performance leaving Minnesota with a 3-2 win.
This match went to a deciding frame with Jason Hickman for
the Dawley side getting the better of Toby Welsh in the last
frame.
The last game in this division this week saw Newport continuing
their fine run with a 3-2 win over Bayley Q. This match also
had a final frame decider when Les Stirling winning his fifth
frame of the season defeated Richard Tranter by 60 points
to 15. That win means that Newport are in joint third place
with Little Dawley B.
In the second division Bayley A continue to impress with
their steady form where they recorded a 4-1 win at home to
Minnesota Fats A. For the second week in a row they have put
one more point between themselves and their mains rivals,
Bayley F, and now have a five-point cushion. In this sort
of form I’m sure we will soon see the Bayley A back
in the first division.
Meanwhile Bayley F also playing at home, means they can keep
an eye on the leaders, although having to try and match the
same results to enable them to keep astride in the race to
the second division championship, and promotion. Bayley F
gained a 3-3 win over Shifnal F, and stay in joint second
position with Dawley B. The Bayley side won the first three
games but Chris painter and Fred Harper stopped the charge
by winning the last two frames.
Dawley B were entertaining Maddocks D at home and managed
to take three points from the match to keep them firmly locked
in battle with Bayley F, for the spoils in the second division.
It will be very interesting to see how this division pans
out!
Maddocks B were at home to Anstice C but the home advantage
offered little consolation as Maddocks plunged to a 4-1 defeat.
The reliable Les Hicks had a good 71-16 win over Kevin Smith
and Maddocks B find themselves third from bottom, and propping
up their team mates Maddocks D, who are currently fourth from
bottom.
Maddocks C are faring a lot better as they took four points
from the Second Club Trench. The Second Club who were visiting
Maddocks started well with Ian Ferriday recording his first
win of the season by beating skipper Graham Hoof on the brown
at 67-38. After that it all went pear shaped as iron man Dave
Thomas won the next game on the pink against Karl Owen 52-31.
Joe Oliver then wrapped up the third frame after beating Roger
Smith 52-20, before Jim hill sealed the match against Nick
Holmes 58-22. Lloyd Giles seemed to have the match sewn up
as he had a 26 point lead on the last red, but his opponent
Nevil Whitehead produced some excellent snookers to snatch
the frame on a re-spotted black 67-60. Unfortunately for the
Second club the solitary point from this match leaves them
firmly planted at the bottom of division two
Codden C at home to little Dawley G are experiencing a quiet
comeback and moved into mid position in the table after producing
a fine 4-1 win over little Dawley G.
Wellington Billiard Hall moved one place up the table this
week in the first division when they played Codden B at Wellington
winning 3-2. Alex Turnbull started the match well taking the
first point from Mark Wall, whilst Andy Yates lost his frame
to Andy Jones. Andy Jones played a very good game with some
good safety and potting well at every chance given. That was
illustrated by his winning score 55-8.
Graham Darrell then put Wellington back in front, although
he didn’t have an easy ride against Simon Yeats and
won 67-55. Next up was our Kenny, who is always a formidable
opponent, but his wheels fell off this week, and Steve Downes
won the encounter 56-48. Finally Alan Turner won the decider
playing Phil Szklarzewicz where nothing really went well for
Phil, and that score finished 62-24. Keeping fingers crossed
that Wellington won’t be fighting a relegation battle
again this season!
Bayley E away to Shifnal A moved themselves one notch up
the table when they won their match 3-2. John Fallows started
well for Shifnal but despite having a 28 break in the first
frame John lost by one point 49-48 to Andy O’Brien.
Next to play was Angus way who went one better with breaks
of 33 and 36 to end up an easy winner against Steve Hoof.
Lindsay Knox then regained the lead beating Dave France 57-20.Simon
Biddulph, ex Shropshire Star champion, than played and lost
to Andy Jones making the match all square. The decider was
played by Phil Whitby against John Squires with John winning
the game 55-18.
While Shifnal A retain their position in the table, their
counterparts Shifnal B were away to little Dawley and suffered
a 4-1 defeat, which drops them a couple of spots in the table.
Jamie Fallows started the rout with a good 47 break in his
match with Chris Petford, the score line being 73-19. Next,
Lee Elcock beat Ray Evans 74-38 to give Dawley a 2-0 lead.
In the next frame Matt Bailey came up against Matt Davies.
Matt Davies compiled two breaks, one 48 and one 45, more than
enough to secure the frame, final score in that game being
113-6. Jesse Lowe beat the comps, secretary 44-30 to give
another point to little Dawley. In the last frame the ever-dependable
Darren Pountney beat Dave Peplow by 57-26 securing the four
points. That win moves them one point above the Wellington
lads in the table.
Champions Anstice A were without one of their main players
this week, although their first time substitute won his game.
It was Anstice’s first lost match of the season with
Maddocks A taking the match 3-2. Sean Harris opened the account
by taking the first game from Ian Eldridge, but Maddocks then
drew level, when Phil Davies with a 38 break during his game,
beat Nick Oakley 69-35.Darren Wincott then beat Neil Price
on the black for Maddocks to go 2-1 up. Ian Duffy who was
unbeaten to date, then played Ian Skelton and suffered the
first defeat of the season, when Skelly won the game 66-28.
The last game saw substitute Richy Jones take the last point
for Anstice when he beat Dave France by 45-37.
Alan Turner
Alan.Turner@telfordsnooker.com
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