The report this week is overshadowed by the sad loss of Les Hicks, who was playing for the Maddocks B side. Les had been playing the game longer than I have lived, probably about seventy years. I received a phone call from one of Les’s team mates to tell me the sad news. Les played, and won his last frame of snooker, before going home, apparently not feeling too well. I believe he was taken into hospital, and passed away in the early hours of Thursday morning. He will be sorely missed by all his snooker friends from over the years.

First Division

Anstice A, at home to Shifnal B this week illustrated how close these teams are matched. The result went to Anstice with Keith Price beating Aaron Sparkes in the first. Ian Duffy never got a look in when he came up against Matt Davies, who knocked in a 72. Simon Yeates also had a fine 46 clearance when he was chasing the frame with John Fallows, that score 52-42 to Simon. A close frame next with Neil Price getting the better of Lindsay Knox, and in the last, Angus Way defeated Adam Moore.

Maddocks A are keeping up with the pace, and in their match with LDS A at Maddocks this week they won 4-1. The first three frames were taken comfortably for the Maddocks side, with Phil Davies beating Graham Wiley, Ian Skelton over Lee Elcock, and then Ian Eldridge for Maddocks, playing great snooker at the moment, having breaks of 27 and 29 in his frame with Jesse Lowe. Stu Russell deserved his win against Leigh France, who was never at the races. Dave France won the fourth frame for Maddocks in a scrappy game with Ade Henry.

Broseley A aren’t out of contention, but don’t seem to have the settled side they would wish for. Broseley were at home this week to Coddon A, and managed to record a 3-2 victory. Graeme long lost out to Dave Lloyd in the first to give Coddon the lead, but in the second frame Neil Caswell took the frame from his opponent, Tony Garmson, including a 32 break. Simon McLeod made it 2-1, in spite of a 30 break from Steve Downes. Steady Mick Brezwyn added the next point to Broseley’s card, also winning the match with a 67-32 score line over Andy Jones. The last frame went to Mark Wall who beat John Banks.

In the Bayley E, Dawley A game, the first frame saw Andy O'Brien for Bayley' came up against the in form Carl Walker for Dawley. A slow start to this frame saw both players missing early opportunities. However, Carl got into character and with some scintillating potting and two 20+ breaks blew away his opponent and went on to win the frame 86 points to 11. The second frame saw D. Beyer for Bayley 'E' up against Andy "Chop" Garbett for Dawley 'A'. A nervous start to this frame saw both players missing easy chances. "Chop" took the bull by the horns and with some good potting & safety play got the points on the board to give the Dawley side a 2-0 lead on the night with a frame score of 45 points to 7.

In frame three Ali Jones for Bayley 'E' came up against Dawley's flying Scotsman Pete Nolan. Ali soon got into his stride in this frame and with an excellent 47 break put himself well in the driving seat. Pete picked up a mysterious injury prior the the match but still managed to hobble his way round the table to get himself back into the frame. However, his efforts were in vain as Ali ran out the frame with more decent snooker, frame score 71 points to 35. Frame four saw John Squire up against Mark Jones. John started well in this frame with some good safety play which saw the Dawley captain snookered several times behind the baulk colours. Mark struggled with the weight with his safety and left John amongst the balls. John got himself into a comfortable 20+ point lead but with some hard fought snooker Mark managed to get the points on the board which meant John required snookers. Mark went on to win the frame and match for Dawley with a frame score of 72 points to 42.

The final frame of the night saw Bayley 'E' captain Dave France up against Dawley's Rick Bailey. A bad start to this frame saw spectators rushing to watch the end of the Lyon v Liverpool match on the TV in the main bar !!!!! However, back on the baize it was the Bayley captain who, with some decent points scoring got himself into a lead that proved too much for the newest member of the "Bus Pass" brigade. (Happy 60th Birthday Rick !!!!). Dave went on to win the frame with a score of 59 points to 16. Match Result : Bayley E 2, Dawley A 3.

This report courtesy of Mark Jones.

Second Division

In spite of a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Maddocks D this week, Min Fats, at home, still head this division. Mick Pearson lost the first to Graham Arnold, with Ian Courtney adding the second, beating Neil Pearson. Cheryl Caswell won her frame, and the match for Maddocks playing Mick Egan, but Dave Blagbourough got a point for Min Fats when he got the better of M. Illyas. In the last frame Phil Bufton made the score line respectable, with his victory over Fred Spragg.

Bayley F are in second place after a hard fought match with Dawley B at the Dawley club. Phil Whitby seemed to be cruising against Wayne Weeks, but that didn’t last, and Wayne came out winning this one for Dawley. Grant Heighway played the inform Mick Hughes, and Mick levelled the match having a 25 break during the frame. Andy Kendrick also had a 27 on his way to taking the point from Nigel Brazenall. It was Graham Darrell who won the match for Bayley beating Barry Roden. Liam Goodman potted very well, and he added the second point to Dawley’s total, Liam getting the better of Alan turner.

Coddon C are going well, and this week they gained a 3-2 win at home to Shifnal A. Gary Owen put the home side in front beating Richard Davies, 63-34. Mark Tusel didn’t fare so well, and lost out to G. Lloyd. Daniel Ballard regained the lead for the Donnington team with a win playing Steve Jones. Ollie Wall lost the next to Shifnal player Ian Postins to set up the decider between Matt Bothwell and M.Jones. It was Matt who gave his side the win, and match victory, that score line, 48-24.

Maddocks B were at home, and lost this match 4-1. Wally Harper was beaten by Joe Rixom, and Joe’s team mate, Carl Kesterton, had an easy win over Doug Morrey. John archer had a close frame with John Calvert and lost the frame by a narrow margin of two points. Geoff Tudor was no match for Gary Walls, who knocked in a 33 during the frame. Les Hicks beat Pete Randall for Maddocks’s point by potting a superb black. As reported at the top of the page, unfortunately this was the last frame of snooker for poor Les.

LDS G were at home to the Second Club Trench side, and found the visitors too strong for them. Ian Ferriday put the Trench lads one up with Paul Crooks adding the second against Tommy Bell. Dave Levenue stemmed the flow with a win over David Welsh, and although Rob Withington came close for the Dawley side in the next frame, it was Toby Welsh who won that one. Mike Thompson for the Second Club made it 4-1 with a win over Graham Copson.

Third Division

Hadley B top the division this week by one point, after recording a 5-0 win at home to Dawley C. This was a one sided victory with Kev Whitehead, John Wright, Darren Pountney and D. Smout all winning comfortably. Dawley C had no player to compete in the last frame, giving the Hadley boys a clean sweep.

LDS B are keeping the pressure on Hadley B, and this week saw them secure a fine win against visitors Anstice B. Colin Gittus got the home side their first win, when he played Stew Wimbush, followed by Richie Heighway adding to the tally beating John Darrock. Chris Lawson then played Noel Stones, but in this frame it was Noel who took the spoils, and getting one back on the board for Anstice. A close affair the next, but this one also went to LDS B with Sam Drake beating Mick Cahill. A very high scoring frame to end the match, and in this it was Pete Clarke taking the frame from Billy Watson 79-64 to make it a good 4-1 result for the Dawley side.

Shifnal D entertained the Bayley D side this week and gained a 3-2 win over the Wellington side. Terry Askew beat Dave Dudley in a close opening frame, before Brian Aberdeen levelled against Sanjay Chauhan. Pete Wharton then put Shifnal back in front beating Mark Bedall, and in the next frame the match went to a decider after Dave Williams got the better off Arthur Aston. The decider couldn’t have been closer, but it was Geoff French with a 22 break that just beat Jim Lewis 44-22 to gain the match win for the Shifnal side.

Bayley Q saw the Hadley A side make the short trip to Wellington, and in this one it was the visitors who took the spoils. Chris Durham got the Bayley off to good start beating Richard Benting. Roy Francis replied for Hadley and he beat Rob Cook. The next saw Steve Weatherall beat Tony Morgan, but then Al Francis levelled the match when he played Chris Fletcher. A nail biting finish with Iain Atkinson, just pinching the final frame against Richard Tranter, 51-43.

The Second Club B are struggling a little, and this week was no different when they came up against the Coddon B, at the Trench club. Brian McMillan took the first frame from Chris Coterhill with Mokesh Lal making it 2-0 playing Alan Kynaston. Nick Holmes started a comeback for the Trench side with his win over newcomer Dean Hatton. Roger Smith continued in the same vein to level the scores beating Roger Lewis. The deciding frame was won by Coddon’s Mark Ebdon who played Jim Hayward.

Alan Turner    

Alan.Turner@telfordsnooker.com