>When we set the handicaps for the cup competitions it is always our intention to make each game more competitive so that everyone has a chance if they play well, irrespective of their league position. BAYLEY Z V DAWLEY C: In the first match of this year's event Dawley C, second in the first division only on countback, travelled to take on Bayley Z, currently at the foot of Division 2, looking to overturn a 263 point handicap. Home skipper Tony Morgan stepped up first against ex professional Paul Lloyd and did well to contain him, although Paul ran out a 99-10 victor to reduce the deficit to 174. Dawley's Michael Mancini closed the gap further to 133 in beating Rich 'Tug' Benting 68-27. However the Bayley's Steve Dawes dug in against the experienced Darren Weston and in the end narrowly lost out 49-62. In the fourth frame Steve Clayton potted really well to overcome Paul Rhodes 101-11 to leave the match in the balance, just 30 the difference now. The home side's Iain Atkinson started well opening up a 15 point lead to extend the advantage to 45. However Zenon Lembicz drew on some excellent safety play to slowly claw the lead back. With the overall lead switching all the time, it was inevitable that it would all come down to the final black. Iain played a safety shot leaving about 10 feet between cue ball and black, but Zenon rolled back the years to fire it in to clinch the frame 69-38 and the match by just a single point. A truly remarkable match played as it should be, in a great spirit. DAWLEY A V DAWLEY B: In the local derby at Dawley it was the A sides Ade Henry who was first up to set about reducing the handicap of 137 against their B sides Liam Goodman. Helped by a 27 break he took the first frame 83-31 cutting the deficit to 85. Next up was the battle of the 2 captains and it was Mick Reynolds, drawing on all his experience, getting the better of Barry Roden 125-30 to put the A side in front for the first time by just 10 points. Adam Moore extended the advantage to 34 in edging past Luke Fletcher 67-43. By the time Keith Price had beaten Andy Garbett 62-20 that lead was now 76. However a spirited effort from John Davies gave the first division team a scare but his 82-31 victory over Sean Nolan proved to be in vain as Dawley A progressed by 25. ANSTICE B (DAWLEY) V BAYLEY D: On the other table at Dawley the Anstice team hosted the Bayley side with the hosts starting with a 75 point lead. Frank Williams took the first frame 59-30 over Brian Aberdeen to extend the gap to 84. In a close game Noel Stones overcame Ben Godding 69-51 to increase it further to 102 with 3 frames remaining. Another close encounter was Nigel Wallcroft who lost out to Chris Morgan-Adams 49-66 and this was followed by another as Steve Smallwood narrowly lost to Jim Lewis 34-51 to leave Anstice 68 ahead going into the final frame. In the end Billy Watson just did enough to hold off Ade Smith whose 62-27 win was not quite enough, Anstice going through by 33. HADLEY B V BAYLEY E: Two first division teams met at Hadley with the home side conceding a 63 point advantage. Laki Badhan edged out Andy O'Brien 49-32 to reduce the deficit slightly to 46. In the next the much underrated Aaran McCann played well to defeat T McDonnal 112-6 to put turn the match on its head, putting his side in front by 60. Skipper Ken Booty out scored Ali Jones 73-58 to extend the lead to 75. When A 'Hadji' Hadjoulica won the penultimate frame 105-28 against D Rowley the writing was on the wall with the visitors trailing by 152. The final frame played out with visiting captain Dave France just pipping Damien Currier 63-61 leaving Hadley to go through by 150. MADDOCKS C V MADDOCKS A: Another derby, this time at Maddocks, saw two high flyers in their respective divisions come together with the C team defending a 137 point start. Mike Wainwright, helped by a nice 28 break, added to that advantage as he beat Shaun Harris 98-34 to put his side 201 ahead. This was always going to be a mountain to climb but Leigh France won the next frame 60-30 against Darren Hoof to reduce it to 171. The in form James Hayward further extended the lead however to 196 as he beat Phil Davies 53-28. Dave France squeezed past Ash Kent 52-39 to leave Ian Duffy the unenviable task of try to retrieve a 183 point deficit. He did manage to beat Joe Oliver 92-31 to restore some pride but it was a fantastic performance on the night that saw the C team progress by 122. MADDOCKS E V BAYLEY CUE: Also at Maddocks the E team faced the Cue team from Bayley with the visitors bringing a 150 point advantage. Despite a poor start to the season, the Wellington side began well with Roger Smith showing his newly found confidence as he defeated Mark Wall 63-36 to increase his sides lead to 177. Maddocks hit back winning the next 2 frames on the black, Andy Jones beating Chris Durham 52-48, then Tony Garmson 45-43 over Rob Cook leaving the home side trailling by 171 with 2 to play. In the penultimate frame the reds grouped together early on the right hand side of the table and with the high value colours tied up a struggle seemed on the cards. However Simon Yeats played some great attacking safety to create the odd opening which enabled him to get past Danny Weaver 85-31 leaving his side 117 behind with the 2 skippers to play. The final frame was played out in a very open affair, Steve Downs had a 28 break but a 22 clearance helped Noel Hitch clinch the frame 61-43, Bayley progressing by 135. MADDOCKS (2ND CLUB) V SHIFNAL B: On the centre table the home side had a handicap of 187 to defend against one of the hot favourites, so the first frame was always going to be key. In the battle of the experienced left handers it was Maddocks' Ian Ferriday that edged out Mick Brezwyn 49-44 but importantly extending the lead to 192. Ex Professional and former England Amateur Champion Matt Davies made in roads in the next frame as Terry Askew did well to stay with him, Matt winning 100-35 and the difference now 127. John Fallows continued where Matt left off as he beat Nick Holmes 73-13 to reduce the deficit to 67 with 2 frames to go. In the fourth frame visiting skipper Lynsay Knox defeated Mike Thompson 59-30 and Maddocks lead was now cut to 38. In the final frame the home sides Lloyd Giles held his nerve and a nice 23 break helped him to beat Aaran Sparkes 48-28 to see his side through by 58. ALLSCOTT V MADDOCKS F: Allscott began with exactly a 100 point advantage and Carl Starling just lost out on the black against Maj Ilyas 47-54 in the first frame. Terry Brentnall edged another close game 58-43 over Kirk Stevenson in the next to put his side 108 ahead. When chasing such a large deficit you really need someone to win well but despite winning all of the remaining 3 frames, they were all close – Mick Pearson 44-31 over Dan Brentnall; James O'Hara 58-36 over Kev Waland and Neil Pearson 50-42 against Dave Finney. Overall it was Allscott who sealed their passage, winning by 65. EDEN G (SHIFNAL) V SHIFNAL D: At Shifnal another derby match saw the G team take on the D team with the latter having a 138 point advantage at the start. Brian McMillan began well for the 'visitors', winning 62-37 against Darren Leneveu to extend that lead to 163. Roy Leneveu hit back in the next winning 69-54 against Geoff French, the difference now 148. A nice 32 break in the next helped Craig Reynolds defeat James Beckett 76-34 to reduce the arrears to 106. A solid performance from Dean 'Pole' Harris saw him stop the comeback as he edged past Graham Copson 55-45 to give his skipper a 116 point lead to defend. The final frame played out with Steve Powell winning 45-38 as Karl Wilson saw his side safely through to the next round by 109 points. As EDEN ELITE had to forfeit against SHIFNAL F and with EDEN A receiving a bye, the last match of the first stage was BAYLEY LADS V BAYLEY B: Yet another derby at the Bayley as first division Bayley B had to try to overturn a 125 point deficit. Kev West started the job as he beat Mike Cooper for the Lads 69-32 to reduce their lead to 88. Dickie Oliver continued the good start by beating Ron Broad 77-30, the lead now just 41. In his first season in the league the Lads Gavin Smallwood hit back to defeat Gary Owen 70-23 and restore the lead to 88 with 2 frames to go. However, rolling back the years was Kelvin McLeod who played well to defeat Ross Bowater 99-12 and put his side just a single point behind. Home skipper Josh Devey battled well but it proved to be in vain as the more experienced Chris Smith came through a 104-22 victor, the B team through by 81.