Owen Jones writes for the Just Wood Premier Division.

Burton Cons A kept on their march towards another league title with a 6-2 victory away at Belmont B. Arron Vaughan was first up against Matt Milnes, with both players playing well at the right times to take a frame each. Brett Craddock had no answer against an in-form John Shilton as the Cons player knocked in breaks of 62 and 54 along the way to victory. Mick Morris also found Darren Coady too strong as he also took both frames. Mark Vaughan then knocked in a 32 break when closing out the match by sharing the frames with Owen Jones.

Alrewas B won tight match against Swadlincote Snooker Centre B, with Phil Marklew being the decisive factor yet again for the home side. He claimed both frames against Ben Davies with all other matches finishing all square. Alan Wilson, Will Sherratt and John Sharpe drawing with Adam Harrison, Harry Farrell and Henry Thomas respectively.

Ivanhoe B and Willington B shared the frames in an entertaining draw. Gaz Dolman won the first two frames, aided by a 30 break, against Dave Mawhinnie. Daz Wilson took the first frame against John Hardy with a nice 31 break. Hardy responded well to knock in a 34 in the second frame and the game was tied. Steve Cockerham then also shared the frames with Tony Clements. The visitors needed Steve Gaunt to take both frames to force a draw, which he duly did, to close out the match. Gaunt also knocked in a 30 break.

Willington A played host to Ivanhoe A in what looked a cracking match on paper. Wayne Pereira opened against Mick Kirk and took both frames to put the home side in the driving seat. Daz Lester then knocked in a 33 break, but he could only manage a draw as Daniel Blunn pinched the second frame. Gaz Barker then played Andy Marriott in the tie of the match. Marriott came away with the victory and a 43 break. Not many players take two frames from Barker, especially on his own table so it was a great victory. Dean Johnson then closed out the game against Anthony Moore, but it was Moore that took the frames and the game finished 5-3 to the visitors.

Belmont A claimed a great 6-2 away win at Tutbury A. Dave Powell played the talented Josh Gebbie, and it was Gebbie who took the first easily but needed the pink to take the second frame. Steve Mabbott then lost two close frames to Mark Press. Dave Mabbott then took the first frame comfortably against Graham Bailey, but Bailey fought back strongly with a lovely 46 break to take the second. Chris Mabbott lost the first frame against Ian Archer but came back well to win the second frame on the pink and knocked in some lovely balls on the way to doing so.

Swadlincote Snooker Centre A hosted Rileys A and it was the visitors who claimed a priceless victory. Steve Ayre had no answer for Tom Elliott’s potting and Elliott took the opening frames. Chris Dewey, John Davis and Andy Goldingay then all drew with Mark Stirling, Ade Harper and Andy Spiers respectively to get the all important victory.

Mark Vaughan writes for David Wain Insurance Division 1

Top of the table SDSC D visited Willington C who have proved to be tricky opponents, Willington’s Steve Butterworth took the first off Ryan Gilmore who came back to take the second, on the other table Swads Wayne Brewin was playing brilliantly and made a superb 61 break in the two frames he took off Lee Cooke, Willington’s Loz Kennerson evened things up making a 32 break in beating Rob Press, leaving the match on the last games between Steve Lane and Swad’s Lee Sherratt, two good frames ensued and it was the Swad man who took both to give his side the win to tighten their grip on the top spot.

Burton Cons B hosted the early season pace setters Ivanhoe C in what turned out to be an evenly contested match, Burton’s Dave Plunkett took on John Skellett in a riveting match with the first going down to the colours and the second to a black game, Dave winning both. The other table was the opposite with Burton’s Tom Egginton always chasing the game and eventually losing both to Brendan Mattley, The home teams Jason Anguish who has played well all season came up against Ashby’s Jason Pickering and in two open frames it was the Ashby man who came out on top earning the man of the match award and giving the away team the lead, Burton’s Dave Shipton played Stuart Tagg in the last match and both frames went down to the wire with Dave just shading both frames to earn his side a draw which keeps both teams in the hunt for promotion.

Swad Cons B played Newhall B in a feisty contest, Swads Bob McInulty played Callum Gray and in two close games that could’ve gone either way it was Callum who got the crucial balls to win the games, on the other table Ross Hollis was up against Newhall’s Adam McInulty with the latter making breaks of 34 and 37 to take both to give his team a 4-0 lead, Swad fared better in the second half of the contest with Colin Cope making a 32 break in the two frames he took off Martin Hicks, the last game saw Swad’s Paul Hollis play stylishly to take two frames against Carl Glover to earn his team a great comeback draw.

SDSC C team got themselves back to winning ways at home to Alrewas C with a 7-1 thumping, Brian Bloor took the first frame of the night but his opponent Jordan Watts came back to take the second, Simon Orpwood then gave the Swad team the lead making a 38 break in the two he took off Rob Mcmeechan, this was followed up by Andy Bloor who made a 26 break helping him to beat Karl Hancox but man of the match went to Garton Bloor who played solidly to defeat Colin Wood for a great 7-1 home win.

Burton Cons C had a drawn game with Stapenhill A.

Tony Coleman Reports on Rileys Division 2

SDSC F made the league leaders Willington D fight for their win with the Power Boys eventually winning 5-3. Leo Worsley playing league snooker for the first time did extremely well for SDSC as he shared the spoils with Simon Malpass in two well contested frames with Leo making a 19 break to take his frame. Matt Hazzard was also in good form as he took a well deserved frame off the high flying Trevor Heath who is well placed in the averages. Brian Alford was the Power Boys star turn as he won both frames in a tight match against Alex Read with both players getting some nice pots. Dave Budworth won the frame to give his team the win as he drew in a rather tense match with Alex Glover. This win leaves them with a comfortable lead at the top.

Another win at home by second placed Woodville S&S A as they beat the talented but inconsistent Burton Cons D 6-2. Jim Marcer and the promising talents of Nathan Brooks shared their frames in two fine games of snooker with Nathan taking the first with some good pots but ‘Master Cueman’ Jim played well to take the the second. For the second week running ‘Master Locksmith’ Alan Orpwood picked the lock to get out of jail especially in the second frame against Ian Protheroe. In the first frame everything was going to plan for Alan who had built up a substantial lead going into the colours which was ideally placed for snookers that Ian took advantage of to get himself back into the frame but Alan managed to pot the blue and pink for the frame. In the second frame Ian was the dominant player and only needed the last red and a colour to be safe but let his opponent back into the match and it rested on the final black. Unfortunately Ian went in-off in trying to cut it into the yellow pocket. This put Woodville 3-1 ahead at the turn a lead they never relinquished. Tony Coleman won two fairly straight forward frames although his opponent Paul Davies never gave up trying to get snookers even on the pink. Probably the best two frames of the night was between Pat Ryan and Paul Brooks the match finished honours even with both players making some nice pots and extremely good safety play. The Cons can feel a little hard done by as they did not take anything from the match.

SDSC E are keeping the pressure on the second placed team as they had a very good away win at Alrewas D winning 6-2. They were given a very good start by Nick Harcombe who won both frames fairly comfortably against Brian Aldridge as he made breaks of 30 and 31 in his first and second frame respectively. Some of Nick potting was of the highest quality. Brian Eccleston got the home team on the scoreboard with a determined performance against Ray Bancroft as it finished honours even. Tom Smith did his best to try and get the home team back to level pegging but he could only draw with Ray Stretton who played solidly throughout. Andy Jeffries was once again in good nick with both his safety play and potting with his opponent John Hill contributing to a fine match with Andy won both frames.
Swad Cons C made promotion chasing Tutbury B work very hard to win their game scraping through by winning 5-3. Tutbury were given the perfect start by their opening players. Colin Bell who is currently playing some very good snooker who won both frames against John Griffin who despite losing went down fighting. Paul Atterbury was on next against Pete Fearn. Despite Pete getting some nice pots he was not able to hold back Paul who made some nice pots and a number of little breaks to enable him to win both frames. The Cons fight back started with Jon Petcher who has not had the best of running this season but took both frames in a entertaining match against John Peto by winning both frames on the black. The match got more tense when the Cons Alan Jowett took the first frame off Jeff Siddalls in another close frame. The second frame and winning frame went to Jeff who had to use all of his experience to get over the line. This match was played in a very good spirit and the Cons could possibly feel they deserved the draw.

In the battle for promotion between Ivanhoe D and Rolleston C it was the home team who ran out the victors in a very tight match winning 5-3. Eric Avins who has been playing very well since he came into the team again didn’t let the side down as he drew with one of Rolleston’s top players Joe Docksey. Joe won the first frame on the black with both players getting some good pots. The second frame could have gone either way until Eric cleared from brown to black for the frame. Jason Collins back in the team had two quick frames against Andy Winson with both players taking a deserved share of the spoils. Tim Bale and Lionel Lewis had to settle for a frame each with plenty of safety play on show by both players in a rather cagey match. For the second week running Warner Collins again strut his stuff on the green baize like Fred Astaire as he won both frames against Kev Norris who made some
valuable contributions in a most entertaining match. Warner won his first frame on the black but took the second fairly comfortably. This victory keeps them well placed in joint third position with Rolleston just two points behind.

Belmont C entertained their local neighbours Swad Cons D by winning 6-2. The first match was between Terry Bosworth and the Cons ‘potting machine’ Gaz Ward. This was always going to be a tight match but Bozzie turned on the style to win both frames with a combination of excellent potting and safety play to which Gaz had no answer. Dave Press and Bob Birch played on the other table. Bob took the first frame with some quality potting and also looked the favourite to win the second but Dave managed to claw his way back into the frame with good safety play to win it on the black. Belmont’s Brian Cutting was once again in fine form as he comfortably won both frames against an increasingly frustrated Andy Boam. Dougie Lees had to settle for a deserved share of the spoils with Kieron Dadley.