One match remaining and two of the division’s titles have been decided but there is still so much depending on that last match of the season.

Division One

Audco took the longest trip of the season to play champions elect, but due to recent members of the team securing jobs away could only take four players. However, this didn’t detract from one last good performance from Audco who managed to take two points from Broseley.

First up for Audco was Mick Hughes making his comeback after four years away from the game. Mick rolled back the years in this match and although Carl Walker, his opponent played well, he had no answer to Mick’s safety or potting, that score line 62-29.

Next up was Graham Long against Alan Turner, last seasons over forty finalists. A tremendous game this, with some excellent potting from both players, but just as Alan thought he had the match Graham cleared from yellow to pink to take the frame. 52-40

Simon Thomas played very well against the luckless Andy Phelan to record a 59-22 win, and Mick Brezwyn came up against Graham Darrel in a very slow paced game which Graham came out on top 73-49.

Last frame of the evening was given by Audco, to the new and first time champions Broseley, well done lads.

LDS A were away to the Shifnal A side and came away with just two points, but find themselves at home for their last match, when Anstice A will visit them. Little Dawley A are just one point behind the Anstice A side, and this match will decide runners up spot.

Bayley A were at home in their match with Anstice A, and in a close fought match lost 3-2 to the Anstice side. Steve Fletcher and Spencer Rowley gained the two points for the home team which gives the Bayley A side a two point buffer over Maddocks C. With Bayley’s final match at Maddocks A ,that could be crucial.

In the other relegation battle this report, courtesy of Jim Hill.

Anstice D’s Paul Devey played Graham Hoof firstly, and in a tense, this-way-that-way game, it went to a black ball which the senior player took (Paul that is!) 44-33.

Next was the battle of the “Steves’, Collins against an in-form Hassack. Maddocks Steve started well but his opponent got back into the frame with a fluked red off a safety shot and his luck never ran out for the rest of the frame. That’s the way the balls flow sometimes 58-42.

Steve “Ozzy” Osborne was put to the sword by Jimmy Hill who could do no wrong. The Ironman played the game of his season to beat the home player needing snookers with four reds left on the table! 69-8, putting the first point on the board for the Oakengates Men.

Nigel Warcroft then potted some great balls to continue his fantastic form. He managed to overcome Billy Rushton 84-7 who kept on fighting to the end.

Last up was Keith Blackham who took on Joe Oliver. Joe was in good potting form and looked like taking an extra point for Maddocks but Keith found his range to take the advantage on the colours to 22 with some controlled potting. Joe could not recover after going in-off and, unfortunately, took the pint instead of the point! 70-32.

Both teams must look at this result and ask “how did that happen?” but sympathy means nothing when you are fighting the drop…all is now down to the last week when both Bayley teams play both Maddocks teams…may the best team stay up! Good luck to all teams on the final Wednesday of the League.

Although unlikely, Bayley E who were away to the Maddocks A side could be dragged into the relegation battle, but thay managed to take a point from the Maddocks A side.

The first frame saw Andy O’Brien beat Ian Skelton in a scrappy game 58-46, but that was the only point to be had for the Bayley side, although the next frame was very close with Ian Eldridge easing Steve Hoof out 54-46.

Phil Davies retuned to a little form beating Ali Jones 78-42, and Leigh France beat his dads namesake Dave France 66-16 before “Dad” Dave France beat John Squire 74-37.

So, next week sees the Bayley E side at home to Maddocks C with all to play for.

Shifnal B, at home to the Dawley social club, had a close match, with home player Chris Petford clocking the first win with a narrow victory over Chris Woods, 62-49.

Next frame was another fine spectacle to watch with Matt Davies compiling yet another break, this time a century against P. Nolan. Although Pete didn’t get much of a game I’m sure he enjoyed watching how all of us would like to play.

P.S. Don’t forget Matt is playing in the Shropshire Star final against one of our other top Telford players, Paul Harper.

Aaron Sparkes in another close frame lost out to Sean Nolan 58-51 and equally as close the next frame saw Rob Wright just get the better of Grant Heighway 71-60.

That left “Mr. Magoo” Nigel Stallard playing campaigner Rick Bailey in the last frame of the evening. Rick came out the victor of this one beating Nigel 63-33.

Division Two

Congratulations are also in order for Anstice C who after this weeks result cannot be overtaken and are champions of the second division.

Anstice were at home to Min Fats G and completed their penultimate match in fine style recording a 5-0 win. John Jones opened the batting against john Powell and returned a score line of 54-43. That was the closest frame of the evening as Steve camp added the second point 61-16 over James Price.

Andy Elliot added the third with a comprehensive victory over Wayne Weeks, 58-9, and Mike Musgrave then came up against Aaron O’Donnell and took that frame 65-39. Finally, Nick Oakley who will come up against his old team neat season, Anstice A, beat Craig Davies to complete the whitewash.

Bayley F managed a 4-1 win at home to LDS G and this should be enough to gain them promotion to the first division as they lay in second place, but with a result yet to be added, if the card arrives!

Codden B were at home to the Anstice B side and so it looks as if Anstice have one side going up and the other going down after this result, as Codden beat the Anstice side 4-1 with the only winner for Anstice being George Hammond.

This result puts Codden C and Codden B on equal points but both teams just missing out in the promotion stakes.

Minnesota Fats A will finish mid table after their campaign, and our thanks to them for making up the first division last season. Minnesota lost their match 3-2 to the Codden C side, but have surely enjoyed this season more that the last one!

Shifnal F entertained the Second Club Trench and won the match 4-1 with Ian Ferriday getting the only point for the Trench side when he defeated R. James 64-29.

Dawley B may have an outside chance of staying up but unfortunately, this is hard to forecast as the card has not been sent in by Minnesota Fats G for their match with Bayley F on the 23rd of March.

Dawley B returned a 4-1 win over the Bayley D side whose form has slumped in recent weeks.

Kev Jones beat Dave Dudley in the opening frame 52-38 with Dave’s teammate quickly levelling the score when he beat Steve Hewitt 72-35.

The last game seemed to be the only resistance shown by the Bayley side as Dawley went on to take the next three frames comfortably and raise the Dawley sides hopes to play again in this division.

Division Three

This division is not quite decided yet, but what an exciting finish with three teams chasing the title and one for the promotion spot.

The Second Club Trench B side had a major hiccup this week when they met Shifnal D. Although at home, the Second Club lost their first four frames on the reel before Neil Robinson took their solitary point.

Tom Firmstone started the match playing Terrie askew, with Terrie taking the first frame 53-34 and giving Shifnal D the first point. Bob Lane had no answer to Sanjay Chauhan as Sanjay won comfortably, 75-16.

Paul Crooks was up next and he too could make no impression as Peter Wharton of Shifnal added the third point of the evening with a score line of 57-16. Toby Welsh came very close to getting the first score on the board for the Trench lads but just came up short, 42-38, and as stated, Neil Robinson took the last frame beating Arthur Aston 52-40.

This result will have given heart to the chasing pack and leaves the Second Club, still in the driving seat, two points clear at the top with one game to go.

Bayley Q, not without a chance, gave their all and fought hard for their three points when they had the Comrades visit them.

Although Rob Cook lost the opening frame 40-27 to C Crook, Chris Durham replied by beating M. Jones to make it one all returning a 29 break in his game.

Chris Fletcher made it 2-1 with a narrow win over M Wordsell, 52-42, and Chris Bates, next up took the third point easily with a score line of 43-7 against S. Jones.

The last point of the evening was closely contested, and the Bayley lads would have loved to have taken that one, but it went to Comrades with S. Preece overcoming Steve Weatherall 56-51.

Hadley A lost 4-1 to the Bayley B side and will look to improve next season.

Alan Turner    

Alan.Turner@telfordsnooker.com

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