TELFORD SNOOKER LEAGUE

Match Report - 4th April 2007

Well that’s it for another season, and although a couple of results are missing, all the ups and downs for this season are sorted.

The first division title was already sorted last week, and Darren Pountney has kindly sent some info on that match. Simon Yeates got Minnesota B off to a fine start, at home, beating Ade Henry before Jesse Lowe took on Ian Duffy. Ian, never in the game eventually took an excellent black, which left Jesse a bit shell-shocked, but that’s snooker for you. The next frame saw Darren Pountney returning to the side playing Shawn Harris, his old mate, and recording an excellent win over Shawn. Lee Buttery making a rare appearance for Little Dawley came up against an in form Keith Price and couldn’t prevent the match going to the Min Fats side. Latest signing, Darren Weston was in fine form to make it 4-1 when he beat Stu Russell.

Broseley A were away to the Bayley E side and although the Bayley E side took two points from the encounter, it wasn’t enough, and with games played, even 5-0 wouldn’t have saved them from the drop! Andy O’Brien took the first frame for Bayley E side beating Carl Walker and Steve Hoof added the second point for Bayley E with a great win over the very useful Graeme Long. That’s a far as the Bayleys challenge went however, as Simon McLeod had a convincing win over Ali Jones. John Squire was the next victim for Broseley as Simon, only one win behind Matt Davies this season, defeated John to make it 2-2. In the last frame Mick Brezwyn had a 43 break against Dave France to gain the match win for Broseley.

Shifnal A in spite of a 4-1 loss at home, finish in third place when they took on Anstice D at Shifnal. A close first frame with home player Lindsay Knox losing out on the black to Paul Devey, and just as close in the second as Angus Way lost 52-39 to Nigel Wallcroft. The third frame saw Andy Elliot beat Andy Easthope before Mick Musgrave piled on the agony beating Roy Martin. The last frame went to John Fallows who had a nice break of 38 with an easy win over Steve Collins.

Forgive the expletives, but when I get some info, even when it’s written so small I need a magnifying glass to read it, I like to report it as sent to me. In the first frame Phil Davies, at home, was always struggling against, (The Loon) Chris Morgan-Adams, with Chris knocking in a nice 37 break on his way to victory. The next frame also saw a 41 break, this time from Ian Skelton from Maddocks with a fine win over Bob Mason. Leigh France struggled a little but managed to take the frame from Maxwell Hodson. Dave France was next up playing Spencer Rowley, and after losing to Spencer, Dave has requested some of his tablets! A little short of last weeks 80 break, but Steve Fletcher did manage a 27 as he defeated Les Stirling who has had quite a good season in the top flight.

Anstice C, who were at home to Shifnal B lost 4-1, but it was enough to keep them in the first division for another season. Although the card from Bayley F hasn’t arrived yet again! It will make no difference to Dawley A who are going down for the first time in their history, if I’m not mistaken? Danny Weaver started for Anstice and lost in a very tight frame to Aaron Sparkes 47-44. Darren Wilkie put up a good fight against Matt Davies, but Matt came through as winner with a score line of 59-37. Another close frame followed with Rob Wright just pipping Steve Camp, 52-46. John Jones was the only winner for the Anstice lads, when he beat Dave Peplow. Nigel Stallard took the last frame for Shifnal beating Chris Woods.


Second Division

Jimmy Hill's final report...

Another season has passed us by and I would like to say how enjoyable it has been this year. Snooker in the second division has brought many laughs with so many great teams. On a personal note, I am off to try my luck in Norway and wish all involved with Telford snooker the best of breaks.

Bayley D tried to do the “double” over Champions Maddocks C but fell just short. Captain Dave Dudley started the fixture off against Darren Wincott. The Oakengates man tried to steal the highest break prize from teammate Steve but in a frame with mistakes from both players, Dave found some form to win on the pink. Craig Whitehead came up against Graham Hoof, who is making way as captain after a successful time in charge. Both men played solid and Graham took an early lead onto the colours. Craig fought back well and took the frame with the pink to put his side two nil up. Two Ironmen were fighting for the “most wins” title (after news came though that Kev West had lost). Steve Hassack took on home player Dave Williams and tried to extend his highest break. Dave did not have the run of the balls and this showed as Steve won his 18th frame of the season.

The only player that could share the most wins with Steve was team mate Jimmy Hill who took on gentleman Mark Bedall. In an open game with not much safety, the frame went one way then another. In the end Jim managed to scrape over the line and win his 4th trophy of the season. The final frame of the season was between Darren Rhodes and next seasons Maddocks skipper Joe Oliver. In the early stages Darren potted a red and the black had unluckily fallen in another pocket, Joe failed to see the foul and said “good shot”! The frame continued in a lighthearted manner and Joe managed to win on the colours and take the match 3-2.


Audco A visited Little Dawley, knowing that a 3-2 win would give them promotion to the first division. This turned out to be a fraught match for Audco, especially not knowing what the other contenders for promotion were doing! Alan Turner opened against young Ian Fleming who played very well on a difficult table, but Alan managed to get to the winning line on the blue, when Ian gave him the frame, but only wanting one snooker? Next up was Anthony Heathcote, who has played very well for us this season, but this frame was full of tension, and in the end Roy Levenue for the LDS side just won on the black. Graham Wiley then came to the table to play Andy Kendrick. This frame seemed to be going to plan for Audco, until suddenly, Graham produced some fantastic potting to make the frame go to a black ball finish. Andy took a superb pink, but jawed the black and Graham won the frame. In a very entertaining game. Graham Copson took on Graham Darrall, who was as cool as a cucumber, and made the match 2-2. The point needed to take us up was gained by Mick Hughes, who has had a good season, when he beat Rob Withington 66-43.

Coddon B had home advantage when they entertained Bayley B. Dave Lloyd got the Coddon off to a good start when he beat Colin Baugh. The next frame saw Kev West lose his chance of sharing the averages when Dave Holmes beat him to keep the Coddon challenge going. The next frame however went to the Bayley side with D. Oliver, (don’t know which one as both of the Oliver’s on the card begin with “D”?,) got the better of Andy Jones 70-23. Steve Downes gave Coddon fresh hope with a win over Richard Bedall to make it 3-1, but in the last Mark Wall lost to D. Oliver 51-38. As it turns out, even a 5-0 win would not have been enough, but Coddon live to fight another day.

Coddon C have had quite a good season and although finishing eight points behind their B-side have made fourth place. Coddon C were away to Shifnal F who have avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth after a 5-0 defeat at Audco last week. Dave Chapman took the first frame for Shifnal beating the very useful Daniel Ballard who has had a fine season. In the next, Chris Painter beat young Josh Wall to make it 2-0 to the Shifnal side. Matt Bothwell stopped the rot with a good win over Fred Harper and Ray Whitehead set up the decider by beating Simon Dyal. John Briscoe then took the match after beating Frasier McKinnon, Frasier losing his first frame in six matches.

The Second Club A finished their season with a 3-2 win over Minnesota Fats G, and will be rueing their two 5-0 back to back defeats during the season, when they were flying along very nicely. Lloyd Giles took the first for Second Club with Tony Marsh levelling when he beat Graham Arnold. The next frame saw an easy win for Ian Ferriday as he beat Nick Turner, but Wayne Weeks evened up the match scores with a narrow win over Keith Mears. In the last frame Karl Owen won the decider when he played Aaron O’Donnell. With the card missing for Min Fats A, the Little Dawley G side are definitely down, but the final outcome remains to be seen.


Third Division

Dawley B, already champions of the division played the Shifnal D side at Dawley. Ian Ward gained the first win of the evening playing Terrie Askew, followed by Sanjay Chauhan for Shifnal, knocking in a 31 break as he defeated Kev Jones. Dawley restored the lead when Colin Thorpe beat Arthur Aston, and then in the closest frame of the evening Barry Roden Lost to Geoff French, 49-48. The decider saw Alex Jones beat Barrie Easthope, 42-24 to finish the Dawley sides campaign on a winning note.

What an exciting finish to the season for Maddocks B, who finished like Red Rum to gain promotion to the second division. Maddocks knew they had it all to do, but with the shock result of Anstice B going down 4-1 at Audco B last week, they knew anything might happen, and it did. Maddocks D who were at home, and gave them selves every chance to go up with a fine 4-1 win over Newport at Maddocks. Wally Harper started the bid for promotion with a win over Ian Stevenson, that was followed by Les Hicks making it 2-0. Doug Morrey, I’m sure, wasn’t going to let the team down, and he didn’t as he also won playing Nigel Simpson. Not for the want of trying Steve Pritchard for Maddocks just lost out on the black to Keith Gardener. In the last frame, John Archer gave his all, and although winning, must have been waiting with bated breath for the Anstice B result.

Well, that result, Anstice B, ended in a home win for Anstice B against Maddocks D, but it was only a 3-2 win, which meant that Anstice face another season in division three just losing out by one point in the table. Darren Shaw for Anstice lost the opening frame against Ken Davies in a high scoring frame before John Darrock made it 1-1. Although making a 30 break in the next frame, Mick Cahill lost to Roy Lowe, and as it turned out that loss gave Maddocks their admission into the second division. Stew Wimbush beat Fred Spragg 49-35 and George Hammond Beat Tony O’Neil 56-33, a very hard fought match this one!

LDS B were at home to Audco B and gained a 3-2 win. Chris Hughes, who has been very consistent this season, took the first frame from Phil Cottey to give the away side their first point of the evening. Graham Grocott made it 2-0 defeating Luke Woods, with Andy Yates adding the third playing Colin Gittus. Tom Wotherspoon then beat Pete Smith in a close frame, but even closer was the frame between Snowy Darrock and Alex Turnbull, with Snowy getting the win, 40-36.

Bayley Q finished on a high note when they took the long trip to Comrades and came back with four of the five points on offer. Rob Cook won the opener in a high scoring frame when he beat Chris Bristow 55-52. Mark Wordsell for Comrades evened things up beating Chris Durham. Another close frame followed with Chris Fletcher for Bayley Q beating C. Crook 43-32. Same again in the next frame, with Chris Bates adding the third point for Bayley, against S. Jones, 51-40. The last frame saw Steve Weatherall beat S. Preece 54-32. There's still one game left for the Bayley boys as they will be playing LDS A in the final of the Consolation Cup. Still unsure exactly who will be playing, they are hoping to make the most of their 160 point head start.

Hadley A continued their recent revival by winning their 2nd match in three weeks against Little Dawley C, at a "wind" swept Hadley club. However it didn’t start too well with the mighty Tugboat managing a paltry 4 points (including a break of 3) against A.Garbetts 41, the match was then lit up with a superb frame of snooker between Kev Whitehead & G.Walls, Kev stormed into a 50 point lead, only for Gaz to claw the frame back with 3 x 20 plus breaks to lead by 12points with pink & black left, Kev took both colours, including a brilliant long pot into the bottom corner to claim the frame 66 - 65. Roy L.D.Francis was on next against Sam Hamilton & played some unusual (for him) but very well executed safety play to claim the frame 74 - 23, Roy finally showing some good form, unfortunately a little late in the season!

Roy's older brother Al Francis then took on C. Kersterton in another entertaining frame in which the latter edged it 49 - 38, despite Al's brave fightback. With the tie evenly balanced,. It was left to Iain Atkinson to claim the frame & the match with a decisive 55 - 7 defeat of P.Randall. With our eagerly awaited final game of the season next week against Audco, Hadley A have finally conceded defeat in their quest for the title, however watch this space as we fully intend to make a serious & determined challenge for honours next season, or at least claim the 2nd from bottom spot!


Alan Turner    

Alan.Turner@telfordsnooker.com


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