2017-18: Week 12

By Mick Buckland

With a stunning 8-0 victory at home to Alrewas A, it is Ivanhoe A who have taken over at the top of the David Wain Insurance Premier Division. They now lead at the top by 2 after wins for Andy Marriott, Dan Blunn, James Hastie and Ant Moore saw off an Alrewas side that only the week before held previous leaders Burton Cons A. Andy had his regular 30+ contribution whilst Ant Moore was top scorer on the night with a nice 37.

Burton Cons A won again but were 6-0 up before an inspired Simon Mansfield for Swad Cons A beat a struggling Jon Swift to make the score more respectable at 6-2. Earlier John Shilton avenged his defeat to Andy Grainger in this year’s Evershed with a 2-0 win, including a nice 62 clearance. Mike Buckland comfortably won the first against former darts pro Mark Robinson making his debut but Mark dug in to make the second much closer before Buckland mopped up the last few colours and the win. Darren Coady struggled at the start of both frames against a determined Paul Slater but in the end Darren included a lovely 51 to eventually win both with something to spare. the Cons are still unbeaten but like in second with one match before the Xmas break.
The week’s big clash saw Belmont A get past Burton Cons B by a similar 6-2 scoreline. Two victories for the Chambers brothers, Rob and John, made the difference as they defeated Simon Smith and Owen Jones-Rob rolling in contributions of 30 and 32. The other two matches were halved-Josh Gebbie with Jon Fletcher and Ian Archer with Matt Milnes in two close frames. This leaves Belmont 2 points ahead of their rivals in third and only six points off the top.
Tutbury A have hit the bottom of the table after being beaten 6-2 at home by Spot On B. Steve Mabbutt had the highest effort of the night with a 38 against Simon Tarrant who hung on well for a draw. Steve Butterworth, for Spot On, rolled a nice 36 in during his win over John Brentnall and Steve Lane played nicely to score a good win over Chris Mabbutt. The game between Steve Hathaway and Loz Kennerson was halved – back to back wins for The Spots have pulled them 3 clear of the drop zone.
Spot On A made it a brace of wins for the club but they are still third from bottom. Last week they defeated Tutbury B 6-2 with wins for Andy Speirs, who had a nice 33, and Mark Stirling. Ade Harper and Wayne Pereira drew as did Tom Elliott and Andy Thompson.The Tutters have now lost 4 from their last 5 and although are in halfway, they are only 3 above last week’s opponents, who are in the drop zone.
At Swad Snooker Centre there was the first Premier division derby for a few years as the club’s A side narrowly beat the B team. Harry Farrell was man of the match as he had a 59 in his win over John Davis but he landed on the losing side. Rich Hinks scored a good draw with Andy Goldingay but that was as good as it got for the B as wins for Chris Dewy and Steve Ayre saw the A team home. Both sides look to have done enough already to stay in the division next year as they both sit mid table.

At the top of the PJM Fascias Division One, Tutbury C made it three wins on the bounce and in the process ended the unbeaten record of Belmont B. Steve Butler made the difference on the night as he had some nice contributions in his win over Mark Vaughan. the other 3 ties were halved….Wayne Smith with Graham Bailey, Steve Burrows with Mick Morris and Tom Lucas with Zaheer Hussein. This leaves Tutbury three points clear at the top but more importantly 10 above 4th place when looking for promotion. Belmont slip to 5th and are without in win in four.
Second placed Ivanhoe B were only able to manage a draw away at Alrewas B. Dave Trueman for Alrewas would normally have won a frame with a 28 included but Stu Tagg held on well for the win for Ivanhoe. For the Legionnaires, Carl Poulton returned to form by beating the in form Bren Mattley. Ian Hiley and Mick Kirk played out a deserved  draw, as did the two Adams, Walton and Pickering. Ivanhoe are still looking good for an immediate return to the top flight whilst Alrewas are just about hanging in there in the promotion race.
Stapenhill A beat Ivanhoe C by a 5-3 scoreline. There were wins for Andy gretton and Dave Shenton over Graham Measures and Darren Wilson respectively. A draw was the result in the game between Callum Coleman and Steve Cockeram  whilst Gaz Dolam was on form for the Ashby side in his win over Chris Sheldrake. In a tight division, both sides are just above the relegation zone and will look towards better second halves to the season.
Burton Cons C are in the drop zone despite having a 5-0-5 record. Last week they were undone 6-2 at home by Woodville A who have finally pulled themselves away from trouble. Yet again Wayne Brewin was the starman including a 38 on the way to beating Greg Read. Mark Satchwell and John Chambers also notched up wins whilst Tom Egginton replied for the Cons with a nice victory over Bob McInulty.
Newhall A made it 5 league wins on the bounce and on the move towards the promotion places after a slow start to the season. Adam McInulty was the man of the match rolling in a nice 47 and beating the SDSC C talisman Nick Harcombe in the process. The two Martins, Hurdman and Hicks were also on form to score wins whilst there was a draw between Newhall’s John Fich and Ray Bancroft of Swad Snooker Centre. Newhall are now just 3 points off a promotion spot with a game in hand, whilst SDSC C are getting cut off at the the bottom, 18 points from safety.

In the Newton Fallowell Division Two, Stapenhill B cemented themselves into one of the promotion spots with a 5-3 win over Ivanhoe D.  Greg Britton was on form as he secured a win for the extra bonus point after defeating Adam Briggs. the other three ties were halved-Brain Lowrie and Simon Piechowicz, Leo Worsley and Andy Tomlinson and Matt Tewkesbury with Bryan Sharratt.
Spot On E also look good for promotion as they got back to winning ways with a 7-1 demolition of Belmont D. The Servicemen’s Andy Biggadike mad the best break of the evening scoring Belmont their solitary point with a nice 36 in his draw with Ben Menzies. Otherwise it was plain sailing for The Spots with wins for Jared Cronje, Jordan watts and Brad Williams.
In the match between Burton Cons C and Woodville B , it was the Cons that went flying into a 3-1 lead at half way. Jim Jennings was knocking the ball in from all angles including a nice 26 in his first versus Billy Bob Brooks. Brooks should probably have won the second but left Jim on for the pink which he gratefully accepted. Alan Orpwood and   Al Munnien shared their two frames in a match neither player deserved to lose. Tony Coleman rolled the Worriers back into the match taking both against Paul Brooks who had no run at all in the second leading to him conceding with two reds on. The final match between Pat “Pizza Boy” Ryan and Ian Protheroe, it was Ian who took the first with a nice pink and black. The Pizza Boy responded in the second, knocking in some cracking long pots to leave the score a deserved draw.
Rolleston B and Swad Cons C had a tight match but it was The Rollers who came out 5-3 winners. Only one individual winner on the night and that was Kev Norris in the last match. There were earlier drawn matches between Rob Sanders and Andy Boam, Rob Tubey and Bob Birch and Lionel Lewis and Mark Brookes.
Terry Bosworth was man of the match in the match between the C teams of Belmont and Rolleston. He rolled back the years and knocked in a lovely 35 on his way to victory over Aaron Doyle. Brain Cutting and Dave Press were also on target for The Servicemen, whilst Steve Atkin returned two frames for The Rollers in his win over Graeme Drayton.
Although not yet winning this season, the Snookerettes are getting difficult to beat and last week they held Woodville C on their own patch. Kate Stirling provided the highlight for the girls of Spot On D as she beat Mark Gallagher. For Woodville, Denis Moore beat Marie Brides whilst there were draws between Jim Marcer and Gilda Horvath and then Wayne Allen and Clare Peaty.