Once again I will start my report in the first division as all the results have reached me on time.

To all intents and purposes, it’s beginning to look a definite title for Broseley who still remain five points ahead at the top of the division.

Broseley were away to the Anstice D side, who are always a difficult side to get a result from, but Broseley did just that! The first frame went to Carl Walker who beat Darren Wilkie by 67-45.

So, first point safely gathered in, and next up S. Collins drew Simon Mcloud. Simon won this frame comfortably by 56 points to 16 giving Broseley a 2-0 lead. Next up, Paul Devey pulled one back playing Mick Brezwyn, and beat Mick 70–46 to pull one back for Anstice.

The next frame saw Rob Scheicka making an appearance for Broseley against the very useful Nigel Wallcroft. Nigel won this frame 58-41. That left a decider between Keith Blackham and Simon Thomas, and could Broseley have asked for more as Simon rattled in a 51 break on the way to securing this match 3-2 to Broseley. That score line 60-14.

Anstice A who were at Shifnal to play their A side managed to take a 3-2 result back to Madeley, but I fear it will not be enough for them to retain their title.

The following report from Angus Way.

SHIFNAL A 2 ANSTICE A 3

Defending champion’s Anstice show no sign’s of giving up their title without a fight, following a hard fought victory at Shifnal. John fallows got Shifnal off to a flying start with an easy victory over Ritchie “Bossman” Wade, including a 32 break on his way to a 76-11 frame score win. Next frame saw Neil Price for Shifnal, playing against former club Anstice, taking on Shaun Harris. Honours were with Anstice on this occasion as Shaun forged an early lead before a very nice 38 break up to the brown secured the frame 68-21. Next up was Jamie Fallows playing Lindsay Knox, and it was John’s cousin Jamie who gave Anstice the lead for the first time with an easy 67-22 victory over an out of sorts Lindsay.

It was now up to Angus Way, stand in captain in the absence of Andy Easthope, to keep Shifnal in the match, taking on Simon Yeates.

Angus missed a glorious chance to post a good break when a missed pink with the break on 22 and the reds perfectly spread, looked like it may cost him dear. However, Simon failed to capitalise and Angus ran away with the frame 73-16 to set up a last frame decider.

Ian Duffy, Anstice’s captain, had the better of the early exchanges against Simon Biddulph, Shifnal’s anchor man. Following a fine 39 break, Ian appeared to be running away to an easy win, but Simon dragged his way back, and with the last three colours remaining only ten points separated them. Shifnal were hoping to beat Anstice for a second time this season, but a fine length of the table blue by Ian put him in the driving seat, and a couple of shot’s later he duly wrapped up the match for Anstice, and kept himself at the top of the “most wins” table..

The next report sent in by Jim Hill has been forwarded and edited by Darren Pountney.

In a game with both teams trying to obtain a result, LDS A managed to get a good 4 points from the struggling Maddocks C team.

Steve Hassack was up first for the home side against Matt Bailey. In an entertaining frame, Steve started well to take the early lead. Matt came back to be close on the colours. Steve then placed Matty in a good snooker, only to see a massive fluke on the yellow and a good clearance, dash the home sides hopes to take an early lead 47-68. Next up “skip” Graham Hoof struggled to control the balls and lost to Lee “baby” Elcock, the score not reflecting the game 7-63.

The result was put beyond the Ironmen when Billy Rushton lost out in the battle with Lee Buttery. Billy played some good snooker but Lee soon found his potting to win 65-34. Jimmy Hill then managed to beat Daz Pountney in a frame that sent the crowd asleep. A re-rack was dismissed by the home player, which seemed to frustrate the Dawley man and a frame was on the board for the home side to stop the rout 60-17.

Final frame was Joe Oliver playing Tim Hicks. Joe, trying to pull his side out of the relegation battle, could do nothing to contain some great control from the visitor. Tim went on to collect the fourth point for LDS.

It seems most matches in this division are seeing the top teams playing the relegation teams and that was the case when Audco met Maddocks A in Newport.

Audco won their fifth match of the season by beating the Maddocks A side 3-2. Highlight of this match was Graham Darrell playing some excellent safety, and potting everything that was on, when the chances came. Ian seemed to have taken residence on the top cush for most of the game, and played some superb safety shots from that position. but lost the frame by 72-22.

There was a war of attrition between Andy Phelan and Phil Davies, and Andy won his second game of the season by 52 –22. A good match for Audco and the defeat taken well by the Maddocks side, but at least they won’t have to meet us next season, unless it’s in the cup!

Dawley A were at home to the other relegation threatened side, Bayley A and the following report is courtesy of Mark Jones.

An entertaining night of quick fire snooker saw Dawley `A' at home to Bayley `A'. The match began at 7-45pm and was over at 9-05pm !!

The first frame saw Pete Nolan up against Chris Morgan Adams. Chris started in his usual fashion by potting 'em off the lampshades and raced into a 63-point lead which virtually killed the frame off. Pete came back well with some good potting and snookers of his own but it was to no avail as Chris went on to take the first frame with a score line of 79 points to 54. Dawley `A' 0, Bayley `A' 1

Frame two saw the newly crowned Shrewsbury snooker league averages winner, Sean Nolan take on Bob Mason. A cautious start saw both players playing good safety trying to force an opening, but it was Sean who got the first chance to put some points on the board after Bob played, and had his first of several unlucky in-offs. Sean never really got going like he has done of late, but still managed to run out a comfortable winner with a frame score of 57 points to 15. Dawley `A' 1, Bayley `A' 1.

Frame three saw Mark Jones for Dawley up against Arthur Burrows for the Bayley club. A similar frame to frame two this one, which saw both players missing early chances. Mark managed to string a few shots together which put him in a strong position and he went on to put Dawley 2-1 up on the night with a frame score of 50 points to 13.

Frame four saw Grant Heighway for Dawley take on Bayley clubs Spencer Rowley. Spencer potted some great balls early doors in this frame and never looked in trouble after that, as a "ring-rusty" Grant never got going. Spencer went on to make the match all square with a frame score of 59 points to 31.

The final and deciding frame of the match threw together the same pairing as the fixture at the Bayley club earlier in the season when Rick Bailey came up against Steve Fletcher. Another virtuoso performance from the Dawley (mon) saw Rick roll back the years against a very capable player. Rick began with a 25 break to get himself into a good early lead. Two visits later he followed that up with a 34 break which put him 56 points ahead with only 51 points available. Rick closed the frame out to take the match for Dawley 3-2 and claim a notable "double" over Steve with a frame score of 72 points to 20.

The last game to report in this division saw the Shifnal B side winning their game 3-2 when they were away to the Bayley E side.

Matt Davies recorded an 84 break in his win over Steve Hoof and a score line of 85-1. I know how Steve must have felt after Paul Lloyd made a century against me a few years ago. Hardly seemed worthwhile getting my cue out, but nice to watch all the same, and I’m sure Steve felt the same way.

This result for Shifnal now puts them on level terms with their A side and leaves the Bayley E side still one point above the drop zone at the moment.

Second Division

No change in the top placings in the second division, and Anstice C are certain favourites to land the division two title.

Anstice, at home to Shifnal F managed a 3-2 win with the closest of finishes. Andy Elliot recorded a 59-29 win playing R. James and Steve Camp made it 2-0 with a 35 break during his match with D. Pye.

John Jones then lost a frame to D. Miller 39-67 before J. Briscoe set up the decider with a 53-11 win over Mike Musgrave. With the match standing at 2-2 Nick Oakley took the match for Anstice by beating Chris painter 57-56.

Bayley F away to the Codden C, club are doing their best to get the other promotion place, and making a good job of it too as they retain a five point lead over LDS G and Codden C who are in joint third spot.

D. Weaver opened for Codden playing Tom Maxfield who knocked in a 24 break followed by a marvellous 69 break to win that frame by 98-12. This gives Tom the second highest break in the division, equalling Paul Harper’s 69, but just one point behind his teammates break of 70, Ritchie Hulme.

Ritchie took the next frame for Bayley against Matt Bothwell 74-28, followed by another comfortable win for the Bayley side when Chris Shaw beat Ray Whitehead 80-20.

Codden then stopped the rot as D. Ballard narrowly beat Eddie Whitehead, and in the final frame D. Holmes, with a nice 35 break secured the second point of the evening beating Paul Maxfield 86-39.

LDS G with the home advantage will not be pleased with their result as the visiting Codden B took four out of the five points from them, and this result seriously dents their quest for promotion.

Bayley D produced a 4-1 win over the Anstice B side who have failed to flatter this season. Craig Whitehead opened for the Bayley side with an emphatic win 60-9 over Stew Wimbush before the only player showing any form from Anstice, Noels Stones, pulled a frame back when he defeated Dave Dudley 53-22. That was the only point for Anstice who have a bit to do if they are to stay up!

The Second Club A entertained Minnesota Fats A at Trench, and in an evenly fought match Minnesota Fats won the match in the final frame, when Neil Pearson got the better of Lloyd Giles 83-35.

Third Division.

After not playing for two weeks due to bye games, the 2nd Club B team travelled to Wellington to play fellow title contenders Bayley Q.

The game started in 2nd Club's favour when Toby Welsh played Rob Cook. Toby had taken an early lead before Rob came back to make it a competitive match. A couple of fouls and missed opportunities meant Rob found himself needing a snooker when they reached the colours, and whilst he endeavoured to gain the snookers required, Toby won the game 63-35.

Next on for Bayley Q was the in-form Chris Durham against 2nd Club's Tom Firmstone, and it was a good start for Tom as he took an early lead of nearly forty points before Chris had potted a ball. Chris staged a low level come back to reduce his deficit to a more attainable level, but the come back was short lived as Tom went on to comfortably win the frame 55-26.

Bayley Q's Richard Tranter played in the third match against 2nd Club's Paul Crooks, and as Ritchie later admitted, it was a very poor performance, Paul winning the game by 57 points to 16.

Going into the fourth frame with the match already won by the 2nd Club, Bayley's Chris Bates took on Dave Welsh. This season has been Chris's best during the several years he's played for the team, and aided by a 20 break he comfortably beat Dave 77-30.

In the last game of the match, 2nd Club's Neil Robinson was beaten by Bayley's most reliable player, Steve Weatherall. It was a fairly low scoring game by Steve's standards, finishing off 56-24, Steve's biggest contribution being a break of 21.

The final score was a 3-2 win in 2nd Club B's favour, and after a brilliant first half of the season it looks like Bayley Q are set for another year in Division Three. The result could put the Trench side in the driving seat in the next few matches due to their games in hand, and this division is like a jigsaw waiting for the last few pieces to fall in place.

Bayley B will not be impressed with their result this week after meeting some of the most experienced campaigners in the league, Maddocks B.

The Maddocks B side went into a 2-0 lead with Wally Harper setting the ball rolling by beating K. West 65-42. Next up, Doug Morrey made it two with a score line of 63-16 over K. Mcloud.

Dan Oliver pulled one back for Bayley beating John Archer 54-9, before Les Hicks with a 30 break put Maddocks 3-1 up with a 73-23 win over R. Beddall. Martin Colley completed the match for Maddocks making it 4-1 with a comfortable win over Dick Oliver 63-17.

Newport British Legion had a fine win over the Shifnal D side, 4-1 with Allan Davies taking the opening frame 47-35 against Terry Askew.

Richard Goldie playing second, and with the home advantage could find no answer to Sanjay Chauhans’ snooker, as Sanjay won this frame very well with a scoreline of 72-12. John Yapp then put Newport back into the lead with a very close game, just edging out Peter Wharton 47-36.

Nigel Simpson made it 3-1 to the Legion by beating Arthur Aston 48-23, and the very useful Les Stirling completed the 4-1 victory with Ivor Peplow going down 23 –66.

Strongest men in the field, Hadley A went to the Little Dawley club and came away with three of the five points.

“Tugboat” Benting got the Hadley side off to a good start defeating Tom Wotherspoon 43-32. A shock next for the Hadley men as their strongest player, Kevin Whitehead, was beaten in a high scoring game by Simon Evans 60-55.

Another close game followed when Allen Francis fell to Colin Gittus 41-35. Allen’s brother Roy, then stepped up to level the match scores by getting the better of Pete Clarke 61-27.

The final and deciding frame saw Snowy Darrock for the home side come up against Iain Atkinson with Iain winning that frame and the match for Hadley 3-2. That score line Iain 57 and Snowy 20.

Alan Turner    

Alan.Turner@telfordsnooker.com

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