Snooker reporter Tony Coleman

 

In the Premier Division, Burton Cons A must have set some sort of record with the amount of breaks over 25 in a match. The total was eight, the highest being a 79 break. By all accounts, Matt Milnes was in awesome form against Craig Keen totally destroyed him” is what the match card said. Matt scored almost 200 points along the way, making three superb breaks of 38, 55 and 72 – not bad for two frames of snooker !! Captain Mick Simpkins playing his first game of the season played solid snooker with breaks of 29 and 27 respectively in beating Paul Atterbury. John Shilton showing signs of his previous life as a professional, by knocking in a superb break of 79. It could have been more, as he rattled the pink in the jaws of the middle bag with only the colours left . In the second frame, he was not so fluent, only making a break of 39. I am sure that Colin Bell, John’s opponent, would have enjoyed the game. Daz Lester provided the only bit of success for Tutbury by taking a frame off Owen Jones, who could have no complaints about dropping the first frame. Owen won the second frame with ease.

 

Another good win for Tutbury B at home to Ivanhoe B winning 5-3. Steve Hathaway and Brendon Mattley drew in two very close frames. Steve Mabbott and John Skellett also drew in two highly entertaining frames. Dave Mabbott was the Tutters man of the match, taking both frames off Jason Pickering in quickfire time. Chris Mabbott got the all important frame, drawing with Mark Pickering for the win.

 

Belmont B had a very good win at home 5-3 against Newhall A. Belmont showed more class tonight than in previous weeks. Michael Lomas is maturing at a great rate with the help of coach Mark Vaughan, and is becoming a difficult player to beat, ask Darren Noble, who can play a bit, but lost both frames , Michael also made a 33 break. Thanks to Belmont’s floating player Brett Craddock, who was playing excellent matchplay snooker,which meant that they where soon 3-1 up as he drew with Fran McInulty. Arron Vaughan played Newhall’s Mark Satchwell, but soon went behind, but cameback well to win the frame. Mark then took the next frame to make the score 4-2. The match became more interesting as Newhall’s Mark Press took the next frame against Miffa Smith with a break of 42 , Miffa found some form in the next frame as he virtually didn’t miss a pot to give Belmont a well deserved win.

 

SDSC A lost at home to Riley’s A in a close fought match 3-5. Steve Ayre drew with Tom Elliott in two evenly contested frames . Riley’s captain Mark Stirling was in good form taking both frames off Chris Dewey with breaks of 31 and 32 respectively. John Davis drew with Kevin Chilton. Kevin won the first frame by taking pink and black, but in the second frame John comfortably won it. Andy Goldingay and Ade Harper drew with neither being able to control the game.

 

Willington B drew with Belmont A. John Hardy got the power men off to a good start by taking both frames off an out of sorts Graham Bailey. Good old Sturmy Archer, Mr Reliable, took two close frames off Tony Clements which included good pots by both players. Lionel Lewis, with some good safety play, didn’t allow the talents of Josh Gebbie to come through, winning both frames. Rich Goldby showed real determination to claw back the two frames they required for the draw against Lee Cooke.

 

In the David Wain Insurance Division One, Burton Cons C have got the bragging rites over their B team who they beat 6-2. Drinks are on Jim! Paul Davies got them off to a great start by taking both frames off James Hart in quick fire time, this was followed by Jim Jennings, as normal, playing a very cagey two games, put it to great use by winning both frames against a slightly out of sorts Dave Shipton. Ian Shrive got the one frame the C team required for victory by drawing with Tom Egginton in two close frames. Mick Buckland and Jason Anguish played out a draw with neither player being able to put his mark on the game.

 

Although only managing to raise three players, Riley’s B got a creditable draw at home to SDSC D, with Adam Farrington for Riley’s winning both frames against Lee Sherratt, with some very good pots. Paul Fox and Matt Collins played out a creditable draw. Zaheer and Ryan Gilmore, both ex Premier players, could not be split as they both deserved a share of the spoils.

 

Alrewas B seemed to be enjoying themselves in a higher division this season, as they beat Stapenhill B 5-3. Although not getting off to the best of starts, thanks to Bryan Sharratt taking both frames off Roy Sherratt in what was two scrappy frames. Alrewas potting machine, young Phil Marklew, soon changed things with two cracking frames of snooker against the unlucky Colin Britton, with , Phil knocking in a very special 59 break. Not to be out done Alan Wilson then went out to take both frames off John Richardson with some very good long pots to take a deserved win. John Sharpe took the necessary one frame for victory against Stan Piechowicz in a good game of snooker.

 

Swad Cons A drew with Rolleston A in a tight match. Andy Grainger got them off to a good start by taking both frames off Bob Sanders, which included a nice break of 30. Rolleston’s captain then got the teams level by taking both frames off Mark Hadley. Paul Slater got a well deserved draw with Kev Norris. It was left to Simon Mansfield and Bob Tubey to see who could battle it out, and get the two frames for victory, but neither of them could, and the match ended all square.

 

As expected, there are no easy games in this division. Chris Sheldrake, after a while out, returned to the game in good form for Stapenhill and was very unlucky to lose the first frame to Trevor Heath, who managed to fluke the pink. Second frame, Chris got his own back by winning with a good pot on the black. John Sheriff won his first frame rather easily, but in the second frame, his opponent Martin Ganley had other ideas, he appeared to be making breaks of 20 plus every time he visited the table. In the battle of the captains, Steve Ford and Dave Budworth ended all square. Steve was in good form, but let the first frame slip with Dave winning it with a 26 break. The second frame was also close until Steve made an excellent 46 break with some good pots and putting the frame out of Dave’s reach. Tim Knopik clinched victory for Stapenhill with two steady frames against Loz Kennerson.

 

SDSC C struggled to overcome Woodville S & S A winning 5-3. Tony Coleman won the first frame against 12 year old Harry Farral, when he conceded on the green but in the second frame, the talented youngster put on his potting shoes to win on the brown. What a good player he could be with the right coaching. On the other table, the match was a marathon, it must have lasted nearly two hours between Adam Harrison and Jim Marcer in two keenly contested frames, especially the second frame where Adam at one stage was 35 points behind and clawed his way back to need just pink and black. He potted a superb long pink into the right hand black bag landing in good position on the black into the same bag, but missed it, and Jim potted it. In a close match between Henry Tomas and Alan Orpwood, Henry was fortunate to win both frames. Alan was in control of the first frame, which included a good 28 break, when he unfortunately knocked in a colour when trying to play safe, and Henry took his unexpected opportunity. Another close match between Pete Maquire and Pat Ryan ended in a draw. Pat had a number of chances to win the first frame, but failed. It was down to the unlucky Pete to give him the frame in potting the black he inadvertently went in off. The second frame was also close until Pete took the last two reds with colours, and then up to pink for a very good 32 break, and also to win the match.