2006-07: Week 24

BURTON AND DISTRICT CLUBS SNOOKER LEAGUE REPORT BY DAVE BUDWORTH In the Just Wood Premier Division, Swad SC A cannot be caught and should be congratulated on a superb season. This week they visited Swad Cons A and started shakily with Mark Sherratt dropping a frame to Dave Clark. The champions then found better form and continued with wins from Darren Noble and John Chambers. The final game taken by the Cons Paul Berry brings to an end a run of 12 wins for Brett Bailey. Burton Cons A against Belvedere Park A was a must win match for Belvedere but unfortunately could only take home an equal share of the points. This means they will have to do something special in their last match then sit and wait while the Cons play their game-in-hand. Spot On A was held to a draw by Rolleston A but is secure in fourth spot. Trevor Heath and Tony Clements took three of the first four but again Rolleston’s Kev Norris (35 break) and Danny Thomson came to the rescue to produce a carbon copy second half. Ivanhoe B was also unable to break away from their opposition. Burton Cons B started the better side with Mitch Hughes knocking in a 34 break and picking up both frames along with one more from Tim Hodgkinson. Ivanhoe’s Graham Measures was cueing well enough to defeat Shaun Golding and Darren Wilson took the final frame against Zaheer Hussain for the draw. Swad SC B is still unable to shake the losing demon and went down to Belmont A thanks the Ian Archer taking the win as everyone else took one-a-piece. In Presidents Division 1, Woodville WMC refused to relax and pushed aside Stapenhill A. Simon Smith produced a 47 break with the best reply coming from Paul Smith against Graham Bailey when he compiled a 35 break. Swad SC C took the wind out of Drakelow’s sails by taking the last four for the win, which puts them back into runners-up spot after Tutbury A lost to their B team who also had to take the last four. Ivanhoe C started all guns blazing against Stapenhill B but ran out of bullets as Mick Comley and Mark Parry levelled the match. Burton Cons C’s Joe Ellis and Tom Eggington went 2up but were silenced as Belmont B’s Rich Goldby and Mark Vaughan levelled easily. The two teams could not be separated and finished taking one frame each. Still no light sabre for Pete Birkin. Belvedere Park B has given themselves the best possible chance of avoiding relegation by thrashing Swad SC D and getting within 2pts of John Carr A. In Furniture King Division 2, Swad SC F has gone 10pts clear at the top and are the only team in the league not to have lost a match. This sends out a warning to division 1 that they will be the team to beat. Measham A made short work of Alrewas B but not before Micky Morris (39 break) had dented the pride of Paul Boyle. The fight for the division averages should go down to the wire. Swad SC G did their E team a favour by heavily defeating Ivanhoe D. The first half of the match ended all square but Swad’s Simon Mansfield and Steve Wilson turned on the class to take the rest. Swad Cons C can be proud of their performance against Alrewas A. Even though they are destined for relegation Graham Leech and Frank Travena put four frames on the board to pin Alrewas back to a draw. The Newhall derby between C and B teams ended with neither team getting an advantage. The B team will have to pull out all the stops to avoid relegation. Swad Cons B had no trouble keeping Burton Cons D in check. Ron Barnett and Bob Birch gave little away and took the first three. Team mates Alan Jowett and Chris Vernon answered with another three for the team win. In David Wain Insurance Division 3, John Carr D cast aside nearest rivals Stapenhill D. Mick Baxter and Martin Beard shared with Karl Hancox and Rob McMeechan respectively before Mark King and Gary Chambers took the final four. Rolleston C has slotted into third after a good home win to Swad Cons D. The highlight was a 33 break from Anthony ‘The Cue’ Rushton. Belmont C has left it a little too late to get into the promotion battle. They defeated Rolleston B and should be promotion material next season. Woodville S&S hosted the match against John Carr C. Greg Nicholl and Terry Eyley took four for Woodville whilst Gord Jennings and Kev Broomfield replied for John Carr for the draw. The Presidents Team Handicap semi-finals took place between Willington B & Burton Cons A and Ivanhoe D & Tutbury A. The Cons gave 35pts away per man and found themselves in a doubles deciding frame after Mick Fradley and Kev Bradley had levelled the frames taken by Mick Simpkins and Jonathan Fletcher. The doubles was a nervy affair which could have gone either way but when the Willington pairing went in-off the final brown and then failed to negotiate a snooker on the blue the place in the final went to the Cons. The other semi also went down to the wire after Ivanhoe’s Dave Watson & Paul Wileman and Tutbury’s Steve Mabbott & Dave Powell had taken one each. Tutbury gave 14pts away to Ivanhoe, which was just enough to see Ivanhoe through to the final. Competitions Presidents Team Handicap Final at Woodville S&S on 19th April 2007. Burton Cons A scr v Ivanhoe D R28 Tool Crew Geoff & Sheila Doubles at John Carr (SBK) on 19th April 2007. C. Keen / A. Davies R6 v D. Lester / R. Gilmore R4