In the Just Wood Premier Division, I am sure the top teams will be rather pleased to read this result, SDSC A beat Ivanhoe A 6-2. This is the second week running that they have lost, and even more surprising, they could only raise a team of three players!! For SDSC, John Davis and Ian Rennocks drew, with Ian making a 45 break with some excellent potting. Another drawn match was between Steve Ayre and Antony Moore. Two close matches that neither player deserved to lose. Andy Goldingay was again in good form, this time beating Mick Kirk, which included a 30 break.
Willington B and Belmont B drew. Belmont seemed to be consolidating their middle of the table position. Steve Gaunt got Willington off to a great start by beating Mark Vaughan in an enthralling game. Tony Clements then lost to the talented Michael Lomas, who seems to be benefiting from Mark Vaughan’s coaching!? Michael made a lovely break of 47. This put the match level at the turn. Andy Jenkinson then played two solid frames of snooker to beat Miffa Smith. It was left to Mark’s son Arron Vaughan to get the draw in two very difficult frames.
Burton Cons A drew with Tutbury B. The Cons are at present not hitting the form that is expected from them, but they are still top of the division and are currently still unbeaten. Mick Simpkins started well against Chris Mabbott winning the first frame fairly comfortably, but Chris came back well in the second, helped by a break of 31, and just managed to hold on to win the frame. Mat Milnes lost his first frame to the determined Dave Mabbott. In the second frame, Mat was in no mood to drop both frames, and winning the frame in typical Mat style. Darren Coady and Steve Hathaway drew. Darren, playing his first home match of the season, was very unfortunate to lose the first frame, but stuck to his game, and deservedly won the frame on the brown. John Shilton, like the rest of his team mates, was not at his best against Steve Mabbott, but typically battled away to win his first. In the second frame, Steve never gave up, and earned his side a draw with a dogged performance, and winning it on the pink.
Tutbury A lost at home to Riley’s A 5-3. Tutbury, probably because they have not got a settled side at the moment, are really struggling. Captain Alan Davies did his bit by beating Ade Harper in two tight frames. For Riley’s, Mark Stirling levelled the score by beating Joe Docksey in a couple of scratchy frames. Daz Lester and Tom Elliott drew in two low scoring frames. Micky Tonks beat the unlucky Colin Bell to give Riley’s the victory.
Belmont A lost very heavily at home to a revitalised Newhall A 7-1. This must be one of their worst defeats at home for many a year. Former player Mark Satchwell got Newhall off to a great start, in beating Shaun Gebbie in two close frames. Captain Fran McInulty carried on the good work in beating Graham Bailey, putting them 4-0 up at the turn. Wayne Brewin was the man of the match, easily beating Rich Goldby with breaks of 61 and 31. The 61 break being the highest in the league this week. Sturmy Archer got Belmont’s only frame in a drawn match with Adam McInulty, which included a 38 break from Adam.
Ivanhoe C lost their unbeaten record as they lost at home to Willington A 5-3. Gaz Dolman and Dean Johnson drew in two contrasting frames. Jerry Cook played some good snooker to get away with a draw against Dave Hayman. The two skippers, Graham Measures and Bill Stewart, also drew, and it was left to Darren Wilson and Jan Pawlazych to sort out the result. It was Jan who won both frames for Willington in two more close matches, lifting them up the league a little.
In the battle between the bottom two teams Ivanhoe B and SDSC B, it was Ivanhoe who were the victors, winning 5-3. Jason Pickering got the Ashby boys off to a solid start, in taking both frames fairly comfortably against Andrew Bloor. John Skellett, who does not play regularly for the team, shared two excellent frames of snooker with Simon Orpwood, with neither player deserving to lose. Brendan Mattley, who is gradually getting back to form, drew with Garton Bloor. Captain Jack Bale, got the two frames Ivanhoe required, in beating Brian Bloor in two hard won frames. This was a great team effort by Ivanhoe, who will be hoping to build on this.
In the David Wain Insurance Division 1, Burton Cons C lost there 100% record to a very determined Swad Cons A, in a well deserved draw. Andy Grainger drew with that wiley old competitor Jim Jennings. Jim won the first frame on the black, but Andy came back well in the second, with a number of excellent pots. How Mark Hadley lost both frames to Mick Buckland was the question being asked at the Cons, he played really well, but did not have too much good fortune to lose two black ball games. Lee Wood and Steve Castledine had two very tight frames, which ended with a share of the spoils. Paul Slater beat Ian Shrive in two long and very ardurous frames.
SDSC C are on a bit of a roll as they hammered third in the table Stapenhill A 7-1. Harry Farrall, again in good form against Tim Knopik, won both frames, in the second frame he cleared all the colours with nice positional play. Adam Harrison was in cracking form, beating John Sheriff with quite a bit to spare, which included a 46 break that was well worth watching, and the break could have been a lot more. Stapenhill’s Steve Ford took a frame off Pete Maquire to prevent the whitewash. On this form, they are quite a formidable team.
Rileys B had a very good win at home to Willington C 7-1. Trevor Heath, going on first for Willington, was their only player to win a frame, when he drew against Andy Speirs, with Trevor knocking in a 31 break to win his frame. Adam Farrington got his potting game going against Bill Davidson, taking both frames fairly comfortably, with some excellent long pots. Gary Mayne played well in beating Dave Budworth, this is the first time this season that Dave has lost both frames. Ryan Gibbs had two close and dour frames against the old war horse Brian Alford, which he eventually won.
Alrewas A had a very tight match against Woodville S&S A, winning 5-3 with the match only being decided on the last frame. Woodville got off to a good start with the evergreen Jim Marcer playing steady snooker to take both frames in a very good match against Adam Walton. Whilst on the other table, Jim Edwards and Tony Coleman shared two cracking frames of snooker, both decided on the black. The first frame Jim fluked the black into the yellow bag, and in the second frame, Tony potted a good black into the same pocket. Ian Hiley and Pat Ryan played out a very tight first frame, with a number of excellent snookers created by Pat, but unfortunately, Ian got out of most of them and just scrapped home. In the second frame, Ian was given a number of chances, and took most of them to win fairly easily. The last match on was a grueller between Dave Trueman and Alan Orpwood, they had electricity to burn. Neither was in the potting groove. Alan had the first chance to win the frame with a tight cut on the pink to the middle bag, which left Dave the chance to pot pink and black for the frame, which he did. The second frame followed a similar pattern as the first, up to the colours, where Dave managed to win to give them victory. Special mention for Doris, the Head Chef, the food was excellent.
Stapenhill B and SDSC D drew. John Richardson played two good frames of snooker to beat Danny Collins, this was then levelled by Lee Sherratt, beating Gordon Jennings with some solid snooker. Bryan Sharratt played well in drawing with Andy Rice. Colin Britton and David Wain could not find the two frames they needed to give their side the win.
Newhall B’s recent revival was stopped in it’s tracks by the recently promoted Alrewas B, who won 6-2. Will Sherratt got them off to a good start by beating Callum Grey in two very close frames. Rob McInulty played out of his skin to get a well deserved draw against the talented Alan Wilson. Newhall’s reliable player Carl Glover, took his normal one frame against Roy Sherratt for a share of the spoils. The talented Alrewas star player Phil Marklew was rather too hot for Mark Anslow to handle, as he was again in fine potting form.
Rolleston A and Burton Cons C played out an entertaining drawn match in which neither side deserved to lose. Rolleston started off well, thanks to Bob Sanders winning against Jason Anguish. The clash of the captains ended in another deserved draw, when Tony Rushton made a fine 30 break to win his frame against Dave Plunkett, but Dave fought back well with some good potting and safety play to take the second. Kev Norris made a 25 break to draw his match with Tom Egginton. The Cons master break builder Simon Smith was at it again, knocking in a rapid 32 break to help his cause in beating Bob Tubey.
In the Riley’s Division 2, Alrewas D had a very good win at home to Belmont C, winning 6-2. Tom Smith got them off to a great start by taking both frames of Dougie Lees fairly comfortably, this was then followed up by Brian Eccleston beating Dave Press with some good snooker to put them 4-0 ahead at the turn. Tony Trueman played a captain’s role by getting the two frames they required by beating Brian Cutting. Belmont’s Terry Bosworth bought some respectability to the score line in beating John Hill.
In the match between two of the divisions inconsistent teams, Tutbury C beat Rolleston B 7-1, although the score line does not reflect how close the match was. Gary Hall had two close frames against Aaron Doyle, and just managed to scrap through. John Peto played well within himself to defeat Dave Bentley. For Rolleston, Steve Atkin prevented the whitewash by drawing with Graham Smith. Geoff Siddalls was in very good form as he beat John Ward, who has been in fine form of late.
It was another late night at Swad Cons, as the C team struggled to beat SDSC E 5-3. SDSC got off to a bright start with Andy Jefferies playing some good snooker to win against Craig Wilson. Bob Birch did not show any rustiness as he beat Ray Bancroft with a bit to spare, this was Bob’s first outing of the season, didn’t he do well? Colin Cope and Ray Stretton had a couple of entertaining frames which went in Colin’s favour. Matt Newbold drew with Tony Mitchell in burning the midnight oil, to give the Cons victory. This win keeps them handyly placed near the top.
Burton Cons D drew with Swad Cons B who are on a nice little unbeaten run at the moment. For Swad, Dan Petcher was in fine form taking both of his frames with some very good potting against Paul Brooks. Ian Protheroe then got Burton off the mark with a deserved draw with Pete Fearn. Geoff Wood got them back on level terms with a solid display of snooker against Len Marriott. It was left to Al Munnien and Barry Bentley to try and win their frames for victory, but they failed, and a draw was probably the fairest result.
Willington D are certainly getting to grips with this division this season, beating Woodville S&S B 6-2. Loz Kennerson, their big break builder, was at it again, this time making a good 46 break, and beating Richard Thornewill. Steve Lane is finding his potting shoes, winning with a bit to spare against Alan Shuttleworth. Lee Cooke drew with Ben Woodward in two drawn out frames. Darren Harris and Jim Gardner also drew.
Another excellent away win for Swad Cons D beating SDSC F 7-1. Alex Reid got SDSC’s only frame, as he drew with Scott Gee. The sun tanned Dave Bodie was again potting well, just ask Henry Carlton who lost both frames.