The league’s draw specialists Alrewas B couldn’t quite get across the finishing line again due to some bad run and a spirited Ivanhoe B performance. Dave Trueman eased to the first frame against John Skellett despite some excellent snookers late on in the frame. The second saw much of the same from Trueman but Skellett fought back well to get ahead but ultimately the frame went to a respotted black. Trueman played a good safety and Skellett went for a long black that missed by some distance but bounced round 3 cushions to nestle in the middle pocket and take the frame on a massive fluke. Ian Hiley’s two frames, that were shared against Ivan Birkin, were of a decent quality and closely fought. Both frames went to the final pink and black with Birkin taking the first after some smart potting. The second frame went to a final black and Hiley smashed a long pot in to take a share of the spoils. Colin Kinsella took both frames off Stuart Tagg in a quick fire victory. Tagg had no answer to Kinsella’s solid potting on the night, although tried hard to make the second frame difficult but Kinsella still had enough to take it. Carl Poulton and Jason Pickering played out two scrappy frames. Pickering taking the first on the final pink after a decent 27 break earlier on. The second went to Pickering as well but not before Poulton had potted the final black to take a draw and a win for Alrewas only to see the white ball trundle round the table and in-off.

Ivanhoe A hosted Alrewas A in a one sided affair. Andy Marriott was again the star player as he knocked in breaks of 65, 49 and 32 in dispatching John Sharpe. Ian Rennocks was also dominant against Alan Wilson as he also won both frames. Ant Moore continued the onslaught as he knocked in a 46 break in defeating Roy Sherratt. Will Sherratt halted the whitewash as he won a frame against Mick Kirk to complete the match and leave the final score as 7-1 to the hosts.

Swadlincote Snooker Centre A picked up a 5-3 away victory at Stapenhill A. Steve Ayre played well as he knocked in a 33 break in beating Chris Sheldrake 2-0 and claim the only victory on the night. Mark Waldron shared the frames with Andy Goldingay. Andy Gretton knocked in a 38 break to win a frame against Mark Satchwell. Finally, the clash of the captains saw Steve Ford and Chris Dewey win a frame each. Dewey knocked in a 39 break in winning his frame. 

A high quality draw took place at Willington as they hosted Tutbury A. Gaz Barker showed a bit of form as he defeated Dave Powell with a break of 39. Daz Lester played out a draw with Dave Mabbott, who knocked in a 27. Chris Mabbott continued his good form as he won both frames against Dean Johnston, aided by breaks of 30, 27 and 20. Finally, Jan Pawlazych knocked in a 38 break against Steve Mabbott but the frames were shared to leave the match all square.

Burton Cons C’s rest week seems to have reinvigorated the team as they thrashed second placed Willington C 7-1 at the Cons.  The Cons star performer for most of the season Mick Buckland continued as he took both frames in a quality match with Lee Cooke with both players knocking in one or two nice pots.  Steve Castledine’s steady return in confidence continued as he drew with Tim Hodgkinson in a very entertaining match with neither player deserving to lose.  This was Willington’s only frame off the night as the Cons onslaught carried on after the turnaround.  Lee Loach who was making his debut for the home side looked perfectly at home as he took both frames against Steve Lane who you can normally expect to get a frame.  Lee knocked in a solid 25 break to take one of his frames.  Ian Shrieve carried on the good work as he won both frames in two close encounters with Steve Butterworth who does not drop both frames very often.  This makes the battle for second place very interesting after   Swad Con’s superb win which leaves Willington only one point in front.

Swad Cons A were in superb form as they whitewashed Woodville S&S A 8-0 at the Woodville Triangle.  Andy Grainger played some superb snooker in beating Jim Marcer despite not feeling at his best but he was certainly no match for Andy who missed very little in both frames for Jim to conceded early on in both frames.  On the other table Simon Mansfield played some great snooker as he took both frames fairly comfortably against Alan Orpwood.  Simon’s safety play was top notch.  This put the Cons 4-0 ahead at the turn and it just got better.  Lee Wood played some very good aggressive snooker as he beat Pat Ryan.  Some of Lee’s potting especially in the first frame was very good.  In the second frame Pat tried to tighten his game up but to no avail as the potting onslaught continued.  Tony Coleman was not able to stem the tide as he also lost both frames to the Malibu drinking kid Paul Slater.  This was probably the closest two frames of the night but Paul played some very good safety play all night and in the second frame got a number of terrific snookers which Tony failed to get out of.  This win puts them nicely into third place only one point behind second placed Willington C.  This heavy defeat for Woodville sees them slip into the relegation zone and looking as if they could be joining Willington D next season although there is still four games to go for most of the teams.

Newhall A  played out a well deserved draw against another relegation threatened side SDSC D this draw moves SDSC up a place to third from the bottom.  Carl Glover got Newhall off to a fine start as he took both frames off John Chambers.  Carl played some solid snooker to win the first on the black with John making a number of good pots.  In the second frame John started off well but Carl started to get into the game to win fairly easily on the low colours.  Martin Hicks continued his good run of form in the first frame against Andy Bloor with plenty of good pots.  Martin was sufficiently in front that Andy conceded in the colours.  Andy came back well in the second frame thanks to some great safety play to win fairly comfortably.  Garton Bloor started the fight back as he drew with Mark Anslow.  Garton took the first with a succession of good pots and with the help of a little bit of good running.  The second frame Mark put in a good shift to win the second.  Brian Bloor was on fire as he beat Callum Gray to earn his team a well deserved draw.  Brian potted exceptionally well in both frames to leave Callum struggling.

SDSC E are trying to consolidate their position in the middle of the table as they beat relegated Willington D at the Arena 5-3.  Andy Jefferies got the away side off to a fine start in beating Adi Millington with both players not at their potting best but it was Andy who just shaded it in both frames.  Steve Williams was no match for the talented Ray Bancroft who when needs must can grind out the win with his quality safety play.  This put SDSC 3-1 ahead at the turn a lead they never relinquished.  Dave Budworth got his side back into the match with a solid display of potting as he beat Ray Stretton.  Dave knocked in a cracking 31 break and with a little bit more luck could have been a lot more to win the first frame.  The match result was riding on the final match between Bill Davidson and Phil Maddocks unfortunately for Willington the resulting frames ended in an honourable draw.  Bill was at his tactical best to win his frame which also included a number of smart pots.  Phil managed to take a frame for a fine away win with a solid performance.

Rolleston A and Willington B managed to grind out a deserved draw.  Willington’s skipper Tony Clements was certainly in the potting mood in the first frame against Tony Rushton as he made two superb 30 breaks to easily win it but Tony deserves a lot of credit as he took the second frame with a mixture of good safety and pots.  Bobby Cliff for the home team did not have the best of nights as he came up against the awesome potting machine that is Trevor Heath who was in terrific potting form all evening. The slimmed down figure of Richard O’Dell got the home side back into the match with a solid and sensible display of snooker as he won both frames against John Hardy who was not at his best.  Steve Gaunt took a tight first frame against Joe Docksey as he made a number of nice pots.  The second frame Joe fought back well to win it.  If Rolleston had not had such a poor start to the season I am sure they would have been challenging for a promotion place or thereabouts.

League leaders Stapenhill B visited Alrewas and earned a hard fought victory which draws them ever closer to promotion, Tony Trueman got Alrewas off to a flyer by taking two long winded frames from Stapenhill’s Brian Sharratt, Stan Piechowicz hit back for the league leaders by beating the formidable Brian Aldridge, Tom Smith put the home team in front but it was Stapenhill’s Tim Knopik hitting back to level the scores, Alrewas had the reliable Dave Riley on last and he faced John Sherriff and a great game ensued with both players potting freely which John came out of on top to give Stapenhill a 5-3 away win.

Rolleston C currently in second place in the league faced the team who has turned their season around and have made a push for promotion themselves Ashby Ivanhoe D, John Harvey got the home team off to a great start by defeating Ashby’s Tim Bale, this was matched by Rob Sanders who got the better of Ashby’s Jack Bale for a 4-0 halftime score, the next two frames though went to Ashby with Keith Bale and Jason Collins defeating Rolleston’s Lionel Lewis and Kev Norris but that was as good as it got for the Ashby side as Rolleston took the last two frames to end the game 6-2 winners.

Belmont C have really shone this season and this week met an improving team, Burton Cons D, Belmont’s Terry Bosworth got them off the mark as usual by taking two off the talented Al Munnien, Brian Cutting then drew with Burton’s Ian Protheroe, which was then bettered by Burton team mate Paul Brooks who grabbed both frames off Doug Lees to level the match, it then fell to young Nathan Brooks to play the experienced Belmont captain Dave Press, it was two close frames but as so often this season the Belmont man came out on top to give his team the 5-3 victory which keeps them well on course for promotion.

Swad Cons C played Rolleston B, Swad’s Pete Fearn and Steve Atkin played out 2 good shared frames. John Griffin and Rolleston’s Neil Cheadle had a close first frame with John going 20 points up and Neil fighting back after John potted a red and knocked the black in, from that Neil had all the luck winning both. Paul Griffin potted really well in his first winning easily but Rolleston’s John Ward kept it tight in the second and ran out an easy winner. On the other table the two frames went the same way with John Petcher potting well in the first and Dave Bentley keeping his nerve to secure the second and the win. 

Riley’s B hosted Belmont D with the scoreline flattering the visitors, Marie Bridges played some good solid snooker against Brett Craddock but came up short while on the other table Gilda Horvath played Mark Vaughan in two quick frames which Mark won, next up was Yvonne Spendlove against Tom Holland with both players potting well, the first game going down to the pink ball which Tom won, the second frame was all Yvonne who potted everything with a succession of breaks to win it comfortably, Mick finished the game off in two close frames against Kate Stirling for a 7-1 score.

Swad Cons hosted another Derby game as the clubs B and D teams locked horns, Vince Draper put the home team in front by beating the D teams Andy Boam, Bob McInulty then faced Bob Birch with the latter levelling the game for the D team, after this it was all the D team with Dave Bodie and Kieran Dadley winning the next four frames for a emphatic 6-2 D team victory.

Tutbury B got back to winning ways by defeating Woodville SS B in a close fought match 5-3 Jeff Siddalls being the difference taking two off Bill Hunt with all other players drawing.