DIVISION 3

After the first 6 games of the season, the focus of attention will turn to the knockout competition next week but division 3 looks to be heading for an epic battle for the honours.  Apart from leaders Newport B, who recorded their second 5-0 victory of the season this week, there are just 3 points separating the next 8 teams!  Newport’s faultless performance was thanks to wins from Colin Farge, Allan Davies, Steve Speeke, Wayne Weeks and Les Stirling over Hadley A who find themselves the strongest team in the division propping everyone else up!

 The other 5 results all ended in a 3-2 scoreline with most notably Bayley D putting in a solid performance to beat Newport A and take second place in the division.  A close first game saw captain Dave Dudley edge out Rushpal Bassi on the black and Dave Williams took the next to make it 2-0 to the Bayley side.  Newport responded with a good win from Brian McMillan but Jim Lewis ensured victory for Bayley in the fourth.  Mark Hebden beat Brian Aberdeen in a close final frame.

 OTHER RESULTS: Shifnal D 2 (Terry Askew, Sanjay Shavhan) Bayley Q 3 (Lee Newton, Steve Weatherall, Richard Tranter); Allscott 3 (John Shelvock, Kev Welland, Carl Starling) Maddocks B 2 (Maj Ilyas, Neil Warrender); Eden B 2 (Chris Smith, Gurd Singh) Anstice B 3 (Nigel Wallcroft, Noel Stones, George Hammond); 2nd B 2 (Chris Cotterill, Roger Smith) Dawley C 3 (Chris Gifford, Sean Cross, Andy Shaw.

 MOST WINS: (6 out of 6) Noel Stones & Steve Weatherall. BREAK: 42 Lee Newton.

 DIVISION 1

 It’s also a close run thing at the top of division 1 where just a single point separates the top 3 teams.  Maddocks C gave a good account of themselves against league leaders Shifnal B. Matt Davies got the opposition off to a good start against Steve Hassack 65-6. Joe Oliver then had the second frame snatched from him when Aaron Sparkes cleared blue to black 49-46. Next up Glenn Oliver, making his first appearance of the season got himself a great scalp by beating previously unbeaten Angus Way 44-22. Darren Wilkie then found his best form and gave Linsay Knox little chance in bringing the match level by 64-15. Ian Cleary for the home side then came up against John Fallows in the final frame and John gave Ian few chances and won the match for Shifnal by taking the frame 74-12.

 Elsewhere a faultless performance from Anstice A gave them a 5-0 win over the Bayley E side with wins for Ian Duffy, Adam Moore, Neil Price, Keith Price and Shaun Harris.  Broseley got themselves into the reckoning with a 4-1 win over Bayley F and considering their poor start now find themselves in joint second place.  John Banks, Simon McLeod and Graeme Long all played well to ensure victory.

 OTHER RESULTS: LDS A 2 (Lee Elcock, Ade Henry) Maddocks A 3 (Ian Skelton, Leigh France, Phil Davies); Dawley A 2 (Mark Jones, Alex Nolan) Coddon A 3 (Dave Lloyd, Andy Jones, Tony Garmson); Coddon B 3 (Neil Pearson, Mick Pearson, Dale Blagborough) LDS G 2 (Roy Leneveu, Graham Copson)

 MOST WINS: (6 out of 6) Ade Henry, Ian Duffy & Matt Davies. BREAK: 85 John Fallows.

 DIVISION 2

 It’s Deja Vu in division 2 – just the 1 point splitting the top three teams.  Hadley B lead the way and entertained LDS B this week.  In a tight and scrappy first frame it was Richy Heighway that drew first blood to put LDS in the driving seat with a win against Kev Whitehead. Dave Smout then managed to claim victory in a tight frame until the colours agianst Ginette Gittus. Laki Badhan found his potting boots against a dogged Colin Gittus and managed to put Hadley 2-1 up and when Darren Pountney won his encounter 51-18 against Sam Drake it ensured the spoils went to the Hadley outfit. Chris Lawson took the final few colours against Jon Wright to ensure LDS went home with a second frame.

 Eden A and Shifnal F share second place but will be looking over their shoulders for the two Bayley sides who lie in striking distance of the top 3.

OTHER RESULTS: Bayley A 3 (Chris Morgan Adams, Bob Mason, Steve Fletcher) Coddon C 2 (Garry Owen, Matt Bothwell); Shifnal F 2 (Chris Petford, Chris Painter) Bayley B 3 (Tom Mulholland, Kev West, Dan Oliver); LDS C 2 (Jon Calvert, Pete Randall) Dawley B 3 (Doug Morrey, Barry Roden, Tom White); Eden A 3 (Mike Reynolds, Craig Reynolds, Richard Jones) 2nd A 2 (Paul Crooks, Toby Welsh); Maddocks D 2 (Michael Wainwright, Roy Adams) Shifnal A 3 (Mark Worsdell, Andy Carson, Steve Jones).

 MOST WINS: (6 out of 6) Richard Jones. BREAK: 65 Eddie Mullard.