No change this week in the first division, as a fine 3-2 win by the Maddocks A side at home to Bayley E, keeps them three points clear at the top of the table. This may only be tempoarary as Shifnal haven’t returned their score card as yet, nothing new there then! Ian Eldridge started the match off playing Andy Obrien, and Ian made breaks of 45 and 25 to take the first frame. Ian Skelton took on D. Beyer in the next frame but couldn’t get to grips with the controlled safety display from D. Beyer, and consequently lost that frame. Phil Davies had no problem in his frame with Ali Jones to put Maddocks 2-1 up. Simon Biddulph for Maddocks made a rare appearance, and he missed two god chances on the pink to make it 3-1, but it was Dave France for the Bayley side who made it a decider for the match, or should I say it would have been except that Bayley had no opponent to offer in the final frame.

Little Dawley A were the home side to one of the other teams chasing this title, Anstice A. Lee Elcock had a nice 43 break in his win over Ian Duffy, so not a good start for the Anstice team. Graham Wiley lost the next frame to Steve Camp, which levelled the match. Jesse Lowe didn’t fare well against his former team mate, in an age gone by, Shawn Harris, and it was Shawn who put Anstice 2-1 in front. Stu Russell was next to the table and he defeated Simon Yeates to set up a decider between Ade Henry and Craig Reynolds. This could not have been a closer frame, with Craig getting the win, 49 plays 48. It looks an uphill struggle for Anstice to win this title now with just two matches left to play.

Coddon A are due to play the two teams above them in the following matches of the season, so it maybe that they will avoid the play offs. In this weeks match Coddon were the home side to Maddocks C. Tony Garmson was up first, and he lost to Darren Wincott. Andy Jones levelled the match with a win over Mick Wincott, and then in the next Steve Downes gave Coddon the lead when he beat Graham Hoof. Mark Wall was no match for Darren Willkie on the night, and Darren set up a match decider with Dave Lloyd and Ian Cleary. Dave, not playing to his usual standard these days, although take nothing away from Ian. lost this frame for Maddocks to win the match. Maddocks should be well pleased with their performances this season, they have had some cracking results in their campaign.

Second Division

Bayley F entertained Little Dawley G, at the Bayley this week, but unfortunately couldn’t field a full side. Of the three players in the Bayley side that could play, the only winner was Andy Kendrick, who played a great frame against Graham Copson. Graham had two 20 plus breaks but saw the match stolen by some great potting from Andy, who won on the black. Roy Levenue then beat Alan Turner, and in the next, after a slow start, Stu Ross had a good 49 break to beat Mick Hughes and also put him in the contest for highest break of the season in this division.

Shifnal A could be involved in play offs although they came adrift in their match this week with Min Fats A, also chasing promotion, reluctantly. Steve Jones was first up and he played Neil Pearson. This one went to Neil for the away side to go in front. Mick Egan fir Min Fats made it 2-0 playing Ian Postins. A close frame ensued between Chris Bristow and Mick Pearson, but it was Mick who won this one, and Min Fats went 2-1 in front. Another nice break followed in the next frame, and this was made by Dale Blagborough, a 47 against Mark Jones. That was too much for Mark and that frame won the match for Min Fats with a frame left to play. In the last game of the evening it was left to M. Ainsworth to try and gain a second point for Shifnal, when he played Phil Bufton, but alas, it was not to be as Phil, added the last point to Min Fats tally to make it 4-1 on the night. So, a great chance for Min Fats to enter the top flight.

Little Dawley C were the home side in their match with Coddon C, and in a very close frame in the opener, it was Coddon who took first blood when Garry Owen beat Jon Calvert, 42-39. Joe Rixom could do no better for the home side as he went down to Josh Wall. Carl Kesterton than came to the table, only to see Daniel Ballard knock in a great 60 break, (which superseded Stu Ross’s break) to win the frame, and possibly the highest break of the division this season. Pete Randall played very well against Ollie Wall but just got pipped at the post to give Coddon a 4-0 lead. Mike Rhodes seems to be unstoppable at the moment, and it was Mike who took the last frame when he beat Mark Tusel to get his side the solitary point of the evening.

Maddocks B do not look like making the great escape that they achieved last season, as they played at home this week to Bayley B. Wally Harper was well beaten by Dan Oliver, but Doug Morrey gave the Maddocks side a great boost as he beat Kev West. Geoff Tudor could not keep that impetus going as he lost to Craig Baugh, with Craig making a 37 break on his way to victory. John Archer was next up, and John , struggling to find his form this season lost out to Tom Mulholland. Having said that, Tom will be one to watch for the future! John Fletcher then lost to Dickie Oliver which meant Bayley B gained a 4-1 win to keep them in contention for a play off position, although, having it all to do!

Third Division

Bayley D were 4-1 winners at home to second placed LDSC B. In game one Richie Highway missed a pink that was over the centre pocket leaving Dave Dudley to pot and clinch the frame. The second frame went to a black ball finish to see Mark Randall beat Mark Beddall to claim what would be Little Dawley’s only point of the evening, In game three Dave Williams comfortably defeated Colin Gittus 60-22, Jim Lewis then had the run of the balls to ease past Pete Clarke 67-26, Craig Whitehead had a tough fifth frame against Sam Drake before potting brown, blue and pink for the game and winning 55-37.

Report courtesy of Dave Dudley.

Newport B played at home against Bayley Q in a game which must come close to the latest finish of any league match. In the first frame it was Allan Davies against Bayley's in form Chris Durham. The game started steadily with Chris forming a gradual lead and eventually leaving Allan needing snookers on reaching the colours. Allan continued for some time hoping his poor potting could be replaced with some good snookers, but Chris held on and potted the final four colours to take the frame. In the next frame Newport's Richard Goldie played Chris Fletcher, and it turned out to be another disappointment for the Bayley captain. Having not yet won a game this season, Chris thought being over 30 ahead was a great chance to score his first points. But alas no. Both players missed several opportunities to win the frame and it was Rich who held his nerve to take the game on the black. It was now one frame each and already two hours had been played.

In the third frame Keith Gardener played Chris Bates and this was another black ball finish. However this time it was Chris who potted the black to take Bayley back into the lead. The game was fairly low scoring after many reds were not followed by colours, and Chris needed to get a snooker on the pink to win the frame. Newport's Steve Speake then played Bayley's best player, Steve Weatherall, and this was the highest quality game of the evening. But after being unbeaten in league matches since November, it was Bayley's Steve who lost the game 50-31 and left it to a deciding frame.

Bayley's Rob Cook played Les Stirling in the final frame and tight and tense it turned out to be. Rob had so far lost everyone of his 11 games played this season (in contrast to Les winning 9 from 13) so most people thought Newport would go on to win the match. But Rob showed his 'Cliff Thorburn' determination and kept his nerve to get to the colours still with a chance to win. It looked like the game was over when Les left Rob needing a snooker on the pink but Rob saw a chance to leave a snooker. Les couldn't hit the pink, and Rob potted the final two balls to win the match with the high score of 76-72. It was the latest game the Bayley lads had played in their fifteen year history, and finishing at 12:27am is probably amongst the longest ever played in the league.

Hadley A entertained the Shifnal D side this week, and it was Richard Benting who started the match playing Terrie Askew. Richard put up a brave fight but just lost out to Terrie to give the away die the lead. Danny Francis also went close, but suffered the same fate when Pete Wharton beat Danny 38-29. Tony Morgan, really enjoying his foray back into snooker was next up to play Arthur Aston. It was Tony who won this one to make it 2-1, but Shifnal, still in front. Iain Atkinson then came to the table and he lost to Geoff French. The last frame of the evening was between Allen Francis and Barrie Easthope. This was a high scoring frame, but it went to Barrie, thereby giving the win to the Shifnal side, 4-1.

It has been brought to my attention at the last committee meeting, that the report sent in by Darren Pountney, featured in my last submission, was not entirely correct. When I receive reports, I usually cut and paste them, then spell check, hence not always reading the content. I would just like to make it known that the committee have not been approached concerning a name change for the over forties competition as stated in that report.

Alan Turner    

Alan.Turner@telfordsnooker.com