I’d like to start the report this week with thanks to the folks who sent in reports via email. Three in total which is a new record; keep them coming! It makes my job easier.

Frame one saw the two seasons in form players face each other and Matt got into his stride early and even though he didn’t manage to build any sizeable breaks, he kept Ian in check to win 51-14, in the next a superb 31 break from A Sparkes sealed a good win over D France 78-19, frame 3 John Fallows faced Leigh France with the frame starting with some good safety, then John latched onto an opportunity given to him and compiled a really nice 68 break, giving him a an unassailable lead 79-4, in the next L Knox took on Ian Skelton, which looked a tough ask, but Lindsay dug in early and combined some fantastic pots, with good safety, not allowing his opponent a chance to get into the frame, finally taking it 59-2, leaving Angus Way v Phil Davies, and it was the home player yet again who got in early with a neat 31 break, Phil did his best to come back into the frame, but Angus cleared up to the green to take the frame 72-28, giving last seasons champions a fantastic 5-0 win over the league leaders, which has tightened things at the top of the Division..

This report courtesy of Nigel Stallard.

After that result, the title race will be an exciting run to the wire with Shifnal B, a nose in front. Maddocks C were at home this week to the Anstice A side, who like Shifnal B were struggling to make ground on last weeks leaders, Maddocks A. How one result can change things! Steve Hassack was first up in a close frame with Ian Duffy, and it was Ian who took the opener 63-50. Keith Price added the second for Anstice with a comfortable win over Graham Hoof, followed by Keith’s brother, Neil getting the result over Darren Wilkie. Darren Wincott pulled one back for the home side with a good win over Shawn Harris, but Simon Yeates for Anstice took the last frame from Ian Cleary having a good 42 break during the frame. That win puts Anstice right back into contention in what looks to be a three way run in for honours.

Coddon A were at home to the Audco team this week, and Audco remain in fifth spot in the table. Dave Lloyd for the home side gained the first win of the evening playing Anthony Heathcote, but in the next it was Mick Pink who levelled when he beat Tony Garmson. Roger Lewis then put Audco in front with his win over Andy Jones, with Steve Downes setting up a deciding frame by beating John Williams. That decider was played between Mark Wall and Paul Proctor, and although the frame was very close, it was Paul who took it, 63-48.

Dawley A, also stay in the same position in the table after their result this week when they entertained LDS A. Carl Walker had breaks of 34 and 35 in the opener against Lee Elcock. Mark Jones then took on Jesse Lowe and in this one, although a very close frame, it was Jesse winning his fourth frame in a row who took the frame, 56-50. Alex Nolan also looked to have had a good tussle with Graham Wiley, and in a high scoring frame, Alex won this one, 66-57. Pete Nolan didn’t have an easy frame with Stu Russel, as Stu won this one easily to set up another deciding frame. Ade Henry for LDS A was matched against the experienced Rick Bailey from Dawley, but Rick found Ade in good form, and Ade won his sixth frame on the reel to win the match for the Little Dawley side.

Bayley A have moved from the foot of the table this week after their local derby match with the Bayley E team. Arthur Burrows lost the first to Andy Obrien, but Chris Morgan-Adams levelled against D. Beyer. Bob Mason put the A team in front with a good win over John Squire, but in the next it was Ali Jones with a good 48 break taking the frame from Maxwell Hodson, who set up the decider between Steve Fletcher and Dave France. Steve won this one easily to give his side their first match win for a while.

Second Division

Bayley F increased their lead at the top of this division this week when they met challengers for promotion, in another local derby match with Bayley B. A very close match indeed this was, with three of the frames ending on the pink, and one on the black. Andy Kendrick won the first in great style in his frame with Kev West, but in the next, young Tom Mulholland played a cracking frame against Alan Turner. Alan always chasing the game did all the hard work coming from behind, only to miss an easy black to win the frame. The black wasn’t really left, so to speak, but Tom potted a good ball to take the frame. Phil Whitby put himself into a great 42-0 lead against the useful Dan Oliver, but Dan never wilting, got himself right back into the frame with some good potting. Phil, who did nothing wrong was watching the frame slip away until he potted a great pink to secure the win. Graham Darrell had a good tussle with Craig Baugh, but Graham is producing some great snooker at present, and he took this one to make it 3-1 for Bayley F. In the last frame. Dickie Bedall potted, and played as good a frame of snooker that I have seen from him for some time, but Mick Hughes rolled back a few years as well to pot some good balls, eventually beating Dickie on the pink. A good match for the spectators this one!

Min Fats A visited the Second Club A side this week, and Min Fats have gained a point on the other teams chasing promotion. The match started with a high scoring frame with Ian Ferriday taking on Aaron O’Donnell. It was Ian who gave his side the first win of the evening. Next up saw Paul Crooks playing Neil Pearson, and it was Neil who levelled the scores to make it seven out of eight wins for himself in his last matches to date. Mick Egan then put his team, Min Fats, into the lead by beating Dave Welsh, before Toby Welsh evened things up again playing Mick Pearson. The decider threw Mike Thompson and Phil Bufton together, and in a close, but low scoring frame it was Mike who won this one for his team to record the match win.

LDS G were the home side to Dawley B, and after the Bayley F result, find themselves joint third in the table with every thing to play for. Rob Withington started the match playing Tom White, and it was Tom taking the first frame to put Dawley B one up. Roy Levenue had a close frame with Barry Roden, but came through in the end to level the score line. Grant Heighway then put the visitors 2-1 up when he beat Tommy Bell. Stu Ross, who has only lost one of his eight matches played since he joined LDS G, continued that run with a win over Nigel Brazenall, which set up a deciding frame between Graham Copson and Liam Goodman. It was Graham who won frame and match for the home side, LDS G, and also gives them a great chance in the run in for promotion.

Maddocks D remain mid table after their result with Coddon C at the Maddocks venue. Graham Arnold put Maddocks in front, courtesy of a win over Ollie Wall. A much closer frame followed between Roy Lowe and Garry Owen, and this one went to Roy 51-44. Cheryl Caswell carried on the good work with a victory over Mark Tusel, but in the next frame Daniel Ballard had a fine 40 break when he played Fred Spragg, and Daniel went on to win this frame 66-20. The last game of the evening was quite closely contested, but it was Ian Courtney for Maddocks who beat Matt Bothwell to give his side a well earned 4-1 home win.

Third Division

Hadley B took the trip to Madeley this week to play Anstice B. Mick Cahill for the home side lost the first to Kevin Whitehead, and that was followed by a comfortable win for team mate Jonathan Wright over John Darrock in the next. Noel Stones prevented a white wash by beating Ken Booty, and having a 24 break during the frame. George Hammond was next up and George went down to Dave Smout. Steve Smallwood was no match for Darren Pountney, and Hadley B are now nearly three matches clear at the top of the division.

LDS B look clear second favourites for runners up spot, and they compounded that observation after a 5-0 win over Shifnal D. It was Ritchie Heighway who started the ball rolling when he beat Terry Askew to put the first point on the board for LDS B. Colin Gittus followed suit by beating Pete Wharton, and Colin did this in style after being 12 behind on the colours, but then clearing the table with a 27 break. Mark Randall won his frame with campaigner, Arthur Aston, and Sam Drake not to be left out of it, also returned a winning score against Geoff French. Last but not least, Chris Lawson defeated Barrie Easthope to make it a clean sweep for the Dawley side.

Dawley C, the home side against the Second Club B side, saw the Trench side put up a reasonable performance, considering the distance between them in this division. Chris Gifford for the home side put Dawley in front with a win over Alan Kynaston, and a close frame ensued between Andy Shaw and Keith Mears. This one went to Andy 56-46. Equally as close in the next frame, and it was contested by Jamie Mills and Nick Holmes. This point also went to the Dawley side, 45-36 to Jamie. Chris Coterill stemmed the tide in the next frame when he got the better of Luke Edwards, and this was followed by the another frame win for the away side, this time it was Roger Smith who beat Sean Cross.

In the third of this weeks Bayley derbies, the 'D' man Dave Dudley got the ball rolling with a 62-17 win against Q's Lee Newton. Game two saw Brian Aberdeen jawing the blue leaving a three-ball clearance and frame to Chris Durham to quickly level the scores. The next frame Dave Williams continued his good run of form with a well-taken final black ball to win 57- 44. The fourth frame saw a welcome return out of retirement for Bill France, not the result he would of wished for as a slightly rusty cue action meant he narrowly lost to the in form Steve Weatherall, The Bayley D team would like to see a few more appearances from Bill to help with there struggle to get back to div 2. This set up a decider between Jim Lewis and Richard Tranter, with the bar staff waiting to go home it was the D team’s Jim Lewis running out a 53-24 winner.

In the match between Hadley A and Allscott it was Roy Francis who took the first point for the home side, Hadley, when he beat Dave Finney. Kev Welland returned to winning ways as he beat Dan Francis, and that evened the score, and then in the next Tony Morgan beat Neil Gwynne to put Hadley back in front. With the match "toing" and "froing", it was Allscott’s turn to win the next, with Steve Powell having a great run this season, doing just that, when he beat Al Francis. The decider in this match was very close, but Iain Atkinson just lost out to L. Harris which gave the match win to Allscott.

In the match between Coddon B and Newport, this next report was sent in by Brian McMillan.

Coddon B 1 - Newport 4. I lost the opener to Colin Farge in a great game, Colin getting a nice little 25 break. Steve Beech took the next for Coddon, beating Allan Davies 54 - 40. Rich Goldie then made it 1 - 2 on the black, winning 46 - 40 over Dean Harris. Steve Speak came from 30 down to win 57 - 34 over Mokesh Mehmi and Les Stirling won the last, beating Rob Kirkpatrick 60 - 13.

We could do with a win!

Alan Turner    

Alan.Turner@telfordsnooker.com