The Burton and District Snooker league began with a draw for the previous season’s Premier Division champions Burton Cons A. Willington A were their hosts, and they fought back well to earn a share of the spoils on the night. Gaz Barker played Darren Coady, with the visiting player potting well in the first frame to win it. Back came Barker in the second, knocking in a 52 break to level it up. Daz Lester also made a draw with Matt Milnes, although the Cons player was unlucky not to take both frames after winning the first. The second half began with Dean Johnston against Owen Jones. The first frame was won at a canter by Jones with some strong potting. The second frame looked to be going the same way but Johnston clawed back the snookers required to set up a tense finish. Jones potted the decisive pink to take both frames for the visitors. Alan Davis hosted Stuart Roberts in the final match of the night. Davies took both frames, potting balls at key times and limiting his opponent to scraps.

The Legionnaires welcomed premiership new boys Stapenhill A in the first game of the new season. Alrewas B’s Colin Kinsella couldn’t quite get both frames from Steve Ford who played well to take the second frame. Kinsella had a nice 31 to wrap up the first but Ford drove home the second frame. In what will probably be a Burton Snooker league duration record, 2 hours of gruelling play saw Poulton and Sheldrake share the frames. Both frames went to the pink and Sheldrake took the second to take a share of the spoils. Ian Hiley started the season in sparkling form against an under par Mark Waldren. A nice 35 in the first and some nice potting in the second saw Hiley home and hosed. In the final match of the night Andy Gretton made sure that Stapenhill took back a 4-4 draw against Dave Trueman. Trueman somehow managed to gift the first frame to Gretton and after that could never get back in the game that saw Gretton take his debut 2-0 win.

Belmont A picked up a great 7-1 win at home against Swadlincote Snooker Centre B, who could unfortunately only field three players. Ian Archer and Josh Gebbie did the damage as they beat Ben Davies and Henry Thomas respectively. Archer also knocked in a 50 break on the way to his win. Shaun Gebbie picked up the other win by default as he had no opponent. Pete Maguire saved the whitewash by taking a frame from Fran McInulty.

Swadlincote Snooker Centre A also had a great result beating Belmont B 7-1. Chris Dewey, Steve Ayre and Andy Goldingay took maximum points against Michael Lomas, Arron Vaughan and Rich Goldby respectively. John Davis played the final game against Miffa Smith which ended in a battling draw.

Tutbury A defeated Ivanhoe B in another hard fought match 6 frames to 2. Steve Mabbott began proceedings against Jason Pickering, but the visiting player was too strong on the night. That was as good as it got for the visitors as Chris and Dave Mabbott took all of their frames along with Steve Hathaway’s win over Stu Tagg.

Rileys A started the season as they ended the last with a good win against Alrewas A. Ade Harper beat Alan Wilson aided by two 20 plus breaks. Phil Marklew was too good for Tom Elliott on the night and also knocked in a 38 break. Mark Stirling made a 31 break on the way to beating Will Sherratt. Nigel Tomlinson concluded the match by defeating John Sharpe.

Within the David Wain Insurance Services Division 1 two of the newly promoted teams Woodville S&S A and Rolleston A played each other.Like last season the match was very tight with the result being in doubt until the final pink.On table 1 Jim Marcer and Richard O’Dell played a very tight and long first frame which went down to Jim potting the black to win it. Jim was rather fortunate to take it as Richard had been potting extremely well up until the colours then Jim started to get a few snookers to get him back into the frame.Jim played a steadier second frame to win with both players making some nice pots.Richard deserved something out the match.On the other table in a match between work colleagues Alan Orpwood and Anthony Rushton the honours were shared. In the first frame Anthony started off the better by making some decent pots which included a 21 break putting him well in front. Alan came back well with a 22 break but Anthony managed to hold on to his lead to win the frame.From the start of the second frame Alan was determined to win it which he did with the aid of some good pots.This put Woodville 3-1 ahead at the turn round. The talented Joe Docksey got Rolleston back into the match by winning both frames against Tony Coleman.The first frame ebbed and flowed between the players with Joe winning it on the pink.Joe took the second more comfortably with some assured potting with a 22 clearance.Pat Ryan won the two frames Woodville required for the win by taking both frames against Bobby Cliff.The first frame Pat was in complete control with some fine pots and safety play then Bobby woke up and started potting allied with some good snookers putting Pat under some pressure by taking the game down to the wire until Pat potted the black.The second frame was almost as close with Pat winning on the pink.

Burton Cons B had a very good start to the season as they thrashed Willington B 7-1.In the match between Dave Shipton and Steve Gaunt there were two very contrasting frames.In the first Dave started with some solid potting which saw him go into a 20 point lead which Steve managed to claw his way back into the frame but Dave was able to keep his nerve to win it on the black.The second frame saw Dave on a potting mission missing very little and winning very easily by more than 50 points which was made up of a number of small breaks.Dave Plunkett’s first frame against Trevor Heath started off with an excellent safety exchange which saw Trevor into a small lead.Then Dave got his potting head on knocking in a nice 28 break which should have been a lot more according to Dave.He also made a 20 break to win on the blue.The second frame followed in a similar pattern to the first with Dave making another 28 break which was then quickly followed by a 16 break with Trevor conceding on the low colours.Andy Jenkins won Willingtons’s only frame of the evening as he drew in two tight frames with Jason Anguish.Andy started off the better of the two by gaining a small lead which he managed to keep for most of the frame although Jason pegged him back to the brown but Andy potted brown blue and pink for the frame.Another tight frame with Jason ahead on the brown and keeping his nerve to win on the black.The final match of the night was on paper expected to be the best between two strong players Mick Buckland for the Cons and Jon Hardy.The first half of the frame was very close then Mick got himself into a nice lead which he wanted and got through some solid potting to win on the colours.The second frame was the best of the evening with Mick in the ‘potting groove’ knocking in a 36 which was the highest break in the division.

Newly promoted division 2 champions Willington D took on Newhall A who failed to get into the Premier division last season by 1 point and played out a draw which by all accounts was a deserved result.Willington have added one or two new faces to their team over the closed season.It was one of those who lost to the returning Sam Hicks.Steve Grace despite playing well suffered with nerves and gave the advantage to Sam in both frames to which Sam took full advantage.Dave Budworth got the Power Boys first frame of the season against Martin Hicks.Dave opened with a 34 break and was totally in control of the frame but in the second frame it was role reversed with honours shared.Brian Alford started well against a slow starting Callum Gray but he managed to peg Brian back but only to lose on the black.Callum played his best snooker in the second frame winning fairly easily.Another Willington new boy in the shape of Adi Millington did a lot better than Steve Grace by taking both frames off Mark Anslow.Mark made it hard for Adi in both frames who had to claw his way back in both frames to win.In the second he won it on the black.

Swad Cons A had a fine start to the season as they beat the third Willington side in this division 6-2.Andy Grainger was back to his best form as he beat Tim Hodgkinson with some excellent potting.Mark Hadley then put the Cons in a great position with a solid display against Taylor Richardson winning both frames fairly comfortably although it has to be said that Taylor did not have the best of running.Paul Slater and Steve Lane shared two close frames.Simon Mansfield played some cracking pots in both frames but he could only draw with Steve Butterworth whose safety play at times was very good.

SDSC D despite missing a couple of their star players put up a great fight but lost at home toAlrewas C 5-3.Brian Pickering made a more than capable stand-in for SDSC by playing exceptionally well to draw with Rob McMeechan.John Richardson previously with Stapenhill played Brian Bloor on the other table.John seemed to enjoy himself by winning both frames with something to spare in both frames.John Chambers for SDSC took full advantage of an out of touch Karl Hancox by winning both frames fairly easily.Colin Wood the Alrewas skipper got the two frames his side required with a solid display against Garton Bloor who was a little jet lagged after only just returning from his holidays a few hours earlier.

Burton Cons C made it a horrible night for the relegated Ivanhoe C as they lost 6-2.Stuart Roberts did not do Graham Measures any favours with a solid display of potting to comfortably win both frames.Mick Buckland and Gaz Dolman shared two scrappy frames with neither player able to get their cue arm going.The Cons skipper Ian Shrive shared the frames with Darren Wilson.Darren took the first frame fairly easily which ended with a 25 clearance and a trebled black.Ian came back well to take the second.Well done to Craig Finch who was making his league debut for the Cons and did it in style taking both frames off an out of sorts Jez Cook who had no answer to the solid display put out by Craig. 

I would just like to congratulate an old friend of mine Warner Collins who plays snooker for the Ivanhoe who with his partner managed to reach the final of the Saga over 70’s Ballroom Dancing Final!

Belmont C sent out a warning with a 7-1 victory over Swad Cons B, Terry Bosworth defeating Paul Booth, Glenn Matthews beating Glyn Newbold and Belmont Captain Dave Press beating Paul Hollis.  Swad Cons only frame coming from Bob McNulty who took one off Doug Lees.

Ivanhoe D edged passed Burton Cons D, Ivanhoe’s Jason Collins taking 2 off Nathan Brooks to give his side victory in an otherwise drawn match.

The Derby match at Rolleston saw the C team take on the B with the B teams Neil Cheadle taking 2 frames off Rob Tubey while in the other room Rob Sanders (23) break drew with the B teams Dave Bentley, giving the B Team a 3-1 half way lead, this was as good as it got though as the C teams Lionel Lewis and Kev Norris took all four frames against Steve atkin and John Ward for a great 5-3 win.

Swad Cons D started the season with a magnificent 8-0 win against Woodville S&S B.