2015-16: Week 1

Owen Jones writes for the David Wain Insurance Premier Division.
A new season of snooker in the David Wain Insurance Premier Division began with reigning champions Burton Cons A hosting South Derbyshire Snooker Centre A. The match finished 7-1 in the hosts favour but this was not a fair reflection of proceedings. John Shilton was first up against Jon Davis. Shilton potted well in the first frame and compiled breaks of 34 and 46 in sealing it. The second frame looked to be going the same way but after Davis fouled, Shilton asked his opponent to play again as the only shot on was a full length of the table red. Davis got down and knocked a tremendous pot in which swung the frame in his favour and he eventually took it on the final black. On the other table, Graham Stevens played out two tight frames against Andy Goldingay. Stevens won both to leave the score at 3-1 at the break. Darren Coady played well and defeated Chris Dewey in two more tight frames on the night. Finally, Owen Jones played Mark Satchwell. Both frames where very tight and could have gone either way. Jones just had enough to shade them both and complete the scoring.
Ivanhoe A also had a good 7-1 victory on the night. Andy Marriott started this season as he finished last by knocking in a break of 44 to take both frames against Zaheer Hussain, who had chances to pinch a frame. Ian Rennocks was also in good form as he knocked in breaks of 41 and 35 in dispatching Rich Goldby. Mick Kirk won both frames against an out of sorts Graham Bailey. The final game say Ant Moore play the talented Michael Lomas. The visiting player duly knocked in a 36 break to take the first frame. Lomas also had chances in the second but Moore just had enough in the locker to pinch it.
Swad Cons made a winning start on their return to the Premier Division as they defeated Stapenhill A 5-3. Andy Grainger was first up against Dave Shenton. The Stapenhill player knocked in a break of 25 but it was Grainger who won both frames including a break of 43. Mark Hadley played out two good frames with Mark Waldron with both players potting well. Simon Orpwood was up next against Andy Gretton. Orpwood potted well in both frames and subsequently won them, aided by a 32 break. Finally, Paul Slater played Carl Jeffcoate. Slater found his opponent to be too good on the night and Jeffcoate won both frames to complete the match.
The Willington (Chimneys) derby also took place on the night with the A team claiming bragging rights over the B team. Alan Davies drew with Loz Kenneson and that was as good as it got for the promoted side as Daz Lester, Wayne Pereira and Gaz Barker, who knocked in a 26 break, defeated Lee Cooke, Steve Lane and Steve Butterworth to leave the final score at 7-1 to the A team.
Belmont A played Ivanhoe B in a match which saw the first 50 break of the season. It was compiled by Jason Pickering in his draw with Belmont’s Josh Gebbie. Shaun Gebbie knocked in a 37 break in sharing the frames with Brendan Mattley. Ian Archer and Fran McInulty did the damage as they beat Stuart Tagg and John Skellett respectively. This gave the Belmont side a 6-2 victory.
Finally, Alrewas A went down 5-3 at home to Tutbury A. Dave Mabbott was in fine form as he won both frames against Adam Walton. Steve Hathaway was also potting well and he won both frames against the unfortunate Carl Poulton. Ian Hiley halted the onslaught as he took a frame against Chris Mabbott, who compiled a 32 break in winning his frame. Dave Trueman pulled the scores a little closer as he won both frames against Dave Powell but it was the visitors who left with the win.
Mike Buckland writes for Division 1
In a much changed division after 5 promotions from Division Two the previous year, it was Ivanhoe C who produced the outstanding scoreline of the week with a thumping 7-1 win away at promoted Stapenhill B. The Ashby side had solid performances from Gaz Dolman, Steve Cockerham and Jerry Cook against John Sheriff, Colin Britton and Tim Knopik respectively whilst Bryan Sherratt saved the whitewash by grabbing a frame off of captain Darren Wilson. Ivanhoe will look towards a possible promotion chasing season whilst Stapenhill will hope not to yo-yo back to Div. Two.
The Belmont derby came around quickly this year in a match between the newly promoted C and D teams. Terry Bosworth was first up against floating player Michael Lomas with the D team man taking the first easily. Terry wasn’t finished though and played brilliantly to take the second. Brian Cutting put the C team in control taking the first on the blue and the second more easily against Tom Holland for a 3-1 half time lead. Mickey Morris then levelled for the D team-just doing enough against Doug Lees leaving the result of the match hanging between the captains.In a steady game, Mark Vaughan took the first on the black against Dave Press and then the second on the pink after fluking it when playing a safety shot.
The Division’s high break of the week was a splendid 41 from Ant Rushton for Rolleston A against Lee Louch from Burton Cons C. The Rolleston man completed a good 2-0 win against Lee whilst on the other table, captain Joe Docksey shared the spoils with Cons C team new man wily Tom Egginton. With the home side 3-1 up, Steve Castledine then played well to defeat Bobby Cliff so the match hung on the game between Rich O’Dell and Cons captain Ian Shrive. Ian just missed the black to win  leaving the match in a deserved 4-4 with both sided rueing missed chances. Rolleston finished last season really strongly and will hope to be up there after Xmas whilst The Cons faded towards the end of last year and will hope to improve with their new signings.
Over at Newhall, it was a warm welcome back to SDSC C and Pete Maguire’s team which had had to fold last season. By half time it was though they had never been away with Ben Davies taking both off of the usually very consistent Martin Hicks and Henry Tomas defeating Martin Hurdman. In the second half, Newhall grabbed some respectability with Mark Anslow sharing with Pete and then Sam Hicks drawing against Ade Owen.
The game at Tutbury really was a match of two halves. Alrewas B raced out of the blocks with Alan Wilson beating the Tutter’s captain John Peto and Will Sherratt defeating Dave Brady. The second half though was a completely different story with Jeff Siddalls and Colin Bell winning for the home side against Gary Green and Alex Michael respectively for a 4-4 draw in the end.
The other Alrewas side started well and will fancy a strong run this season. Rob McMeecham won comfortably against Rob Sanders whilst John Richardson shared his match versus Kev Norris for a 3-1 half time lead. In the second half Colin Wood lost to John Harvey but the Legion’s captain Karl Hancox produced a nice 30 in his win against Lionel Lewis.
In the final game, Swad Snooker Centre’s B team lost narrowly 5-3 to The Chimneys experienced C team. The difference was probably in the breaks made as John Hardy recorded a good 25 in his draw with Ray Stretton and Tony Clements knocked in a 28 in his draw versus Ray Bancroft. Mike Staley and Andy Jenkins also drew leaving Trevor Heath to decide the outcome of the whole match by beating Andy Jeffries.
Tony Coleman your ‘on the spot’ reporter on Division 2
The Chimneys D formally Willington D got their season back in Division 2 off to a fine start as they beat the Spot On B young ladies 6-2.  The Chimneys were made to fight for every frame to beat the determined opponents.  Dave Budworth managed to take both frames against Claire Roulstone with a number of fine pots.  Adi Millington and Kate Stirling shared two good frames of snooker with both players making some nice pots with some solid safety play.  Bill Davidson’s all round game on the night was too good for a determined Marie Bridges.  As usual Bill’s safety play was top notch.  Brian Alford was back from his yearly fishing trip to share two entertaining frames with Yvonne Spendlove who with a little more running could have won both.
Ivanhoe D just managed to scrap a win against Rolleston C winning 5-3 after being 1-3 down at the turn round.  Aaron Doyle got Rolleston off to a great start with a solid display of potting to take both frames from Keith Bale who was a little snooker rusty.  Neil Cheadle put the away side in a good position as he drew with one of the teams great stalwarts Jack Bale with both players making some great contributions to two highly entertaining frames.  This put Rolleston in the driving seat as they led 3-1 at the turn but they had not banked on the Collins boys who came to the home teams rescue.  Firstly it was Jason who won both frames against Dave Bentley with a confident display of potting especially his long potting to get them back on level terms.  It was then left to dad Warner to finish the job off by beating Steve Atkin in two very close frames with neither frame being decided until the last few balls.  Warner was pleased to put away the fake tan spray and his dancing shoes after a busy dancing season tour.
In the first inter club derby between Swad Cons teams D and C it was the C team who came away with the bragging rights as they won comfortably 7-1.  John Griffin for the D team came up against Gaz Ward who was in good form by taking both frames with a mixture of solid potting and safety play.  Kieran Dadley then put the C team in a great position as he won both frames with Paul Griffin who despite losing managed to get a number of good pots.  Peter Fearn managed to prevent the white wash in drawing with Andy Boam.  Both players seemed to struggle at times in their potting.  The evergreen Bob Birch was in fine form as he beat Dan Petcher in a match that was played with a great deal of enthusiasm.
Burton Cons D season at home to Woodville S&S B did not get off to the best of starts as they lost 6-2.  Ian Protheroe and Terry Eyley shared their frames with neither player being able to be consistent enough to take both frames.  Wayne Allen put the away side in a strong position as he beat Paul Brooks with both players not being at their best.  This put Woodville 3-1 ahead at the turn a lead they never lost.  I am sure the addition of the young Jim Jennings into the Cons team will ensure that they will have a stronger season than in the past.  The quality of Jim’s play was evident in the frame he won against the Woodville debutante Dennis Moore.  Dennis knocked in a number of good pots to win his frame.  Keiron Harlow was no match on the night against the talented Mark Gallagher who won both frames with some good pots and a number of small breaks.
Relegated SDSC D got their season off to a good start as they beat Spot On C which is a new team 5-3.  Billy Newman for Spot On did very well to take a frame off Andy Bloor who I am sure will not drop many frames as he was near the top of the averages last year in Division 1.  Andy played well at times with some good safety play.  Billy made a number of impressive pots throughout the match.  Brian Bloor was pretty solid in both frames in beating Kieran Bexon who managed to pot a number of good balls.  John Chambers made a number of stylish pots to beat Adam Edwards and won the match for the home team as David Wain one of the leagues main and oldest sponsor lost two tight frames with Ben Menzies.  On this showing Spot On C will be a valuable asset to the division.
Another team that was relegated last season is Woodville S&S A who had a great battle with Alrewas D with a draw being the fair result in what was a game of two halves.  Tom Smith for the A38 boys was in fine form as he beat Woodville’s star player Jim Marcer.  In the first frame Tom potted a number of good balls with Jim conceding on the colours.  Tom started the second frame like a train going into a good lead thanks to the divisions best break of the week being 31.  Jim gradually clawed his way back into the frame only to lose on the pink.  Tony Trueman for Alrewas can feel a little aggrieved not to have taken both frames against Alan Orpwood.  The first frame Tony potted very well missing very little.  The second frame was a much tighter affair with very little separating the players up to the brown when Tony attempting to roll the cue ball up to the brown under hit it leaving the opportunity to lay a snooker which Tony failed to negotiate leaving Alan the chance to take the necessary colours to share the frames.  This put Alrewas 3-1 ahead at the turn and it soon became 4-1 with Pat Ryan losing the first frame to Shaun Tubbert.  Shaun played a number of good pots to put pressure on Pat who could not get his cuing arm going in this frame.  The second frame Pat was a different player buoyed by his Newkie Brown he seemed to miss very little with Shaun conceding on the brown.  Tony Coleman earned his side the draw by taking both frames off Brian Aldridge.  The first frame Tony won fairly easily but the second frame was fairly tight before he knocked in a long brown into the yellow bag and did similar to the blue to leave him safe.  Tony would be the first to admit he had a bit of good running in the second frame.
A warm welcome to a new club and a new sponsor The Baulk Line who are based in Sapporton Manor who played host to Swad Cons B and got off to a 5-3 winning start. Mark Storr and the Cons Gerald White had two solid frames of snooker with neither player being able get the upper hand so a share of the spoils was about right.  The main difference on the night was the two frames that Jon Sully won against Paul Hollis as all of the other matches was drawn.  Jon Sully seemed to be enjoying himself judging by the quality of potting on the night.  Mick Taylor and Jake Mole deservedly shared their match with both players making a number of significant pots.  Lance Sully got the one frame the team needed for the win as he drew in a close match with Josh Pearson.