2018-19: Week 15

By Mick Buckland

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In the David Wain Insurance Premier Division, there was a potential relegation battle at Tubury Club, where the club’s C team went down 5-3 to Belmont B. It was a game of 2 halves. Arron Vaughan played against Steve Butler. In the 1st Steve took the frame on the pink. In the second game Steve didn’t let Arron see a lot running out comfortably. Mark Satchwell ,for Belmont,lost his first frame to Wayne Smith but then he started to show signs of his cueing getting back to his best in the second frame winning it giving the Tutbury side a 3-1 lead at half time. Gebbie Snr played solid snooker in both frames to take both his frames against Tom Lucas, cueing really well. He would of had the performance of the night if it wasn’t for Gebbie Jr against Steve Burrows. Josh potted everything in his game and put together a hard fought 30 break that if the balls had been kinder would have been a lot more. A great result for Belmont B coming into an important run of fixtures for them in their relegation battle.

Spot On A had a terrific 6-2 home win against SDSC A by virtue of wins for Ade Harper and Andy Speirs. Andy had a nice 30 on the way to beating Adam Harrison. Tom Elliott, for The Spots, had the evening’s highest contribution with a lovely 38 against Pete Maguire, who battled well himself for a share of the spoils. There was another draw in the game between Mark Stirling and Henry Tomas. There are just 5 points covering six teams near the foot of the table so every frame will really count towards the end of the season. 

Newhall A are another side for whom each frame is important and they managed to take three from a strong Swad Cons A outfit but eventually went down 5-3. Nick Walker had a good 31 in his match against Andy Grainger to take a frame with Andy knocking in a 43 in return. Carl Glover and Paul Slater fought out another draw to leave it all square at halfway. In the second half there was another draw between Martin Hicks of Newhall and Simon Orpwood so the result was decided by Ant Rushton’s victory over Callum Coleman. Ant had efforts of 25 and 36 along the way. This is now no wins in six for Newhall who are one off the bottom whilst Swad Cons have some breathing space in 6th place.

Leaders Ivanhoe were without a fixture so there was opportunity for the chasing pack to close the gap, however Belmont A suffered a surprise 6-2 home defeat by fifth placed Alrewas A. The damage was done in the first half as Lee Louch had runs of 36 and 31 in defeating the home side’s Owen Jones. On the other table, Tom Smith had a thirty six of his own to get past Belmont’s Rob Chambers, who rarely loses both. John Chambers had the best break of the night with a 51 against the Legionnaires’ captain Karl Hancox but Karl played well to take the other frame. In the final encounter there was another half between Mark Sherratt and John Richardson to leave Belmont in third, four points off the top and Alrewas fifth, only 11 points behind themselves, albeit having played a game more. 

Burton Cons A took their opportunity to get back in the hunt after two successive defeats before Xmas by thrashing Tutbury A 7-1. The scoreline does not tell the whole story though as on another night The Tutters could have come away winning the match if they had taken their chances. Graham Stevens, for The Cons, beat Dave Mabbutt but only after a real tussle in both frames. Mike Buckland missed an “unmissable” pink to take the first before knocking in a far more awkward black after some decent safety from both players against Chris Mabbutt. The second frame was littered with bad fortune, mostly against Chris, who went in off trying to lay a snooker to leave Mike an easy clearance for another 2-0 victory. Jon Fletcher, in his match against John Brentnall, knocked in a beauty of an opening red and went on with blacks to 33 before breaking down and was fortunate to hang on in the end after a tremendous fightback from John. Fletcher then needed to pot a thin pink to win the second but missed it altogether meaning it was Brentnall who just needed it and he duly snatched it to leave their encounter all square. In the final game Jon Swift won the first against Steve Mabbutt before a very drawn out last frame saw Steve go 30 up with only one red left. Swift fought  back with the aid of some cracking safety and eventually took it on the black for a 7-1 win for the Cons to leave them level at the top with Ivanhoe, having played a game more.

Burton Cons B have been struggling for players recently and last week lost ground at the top by going down 5-3 away at Tutbury B. Wayne Pereira took both off part time player David Smith whilst Bill Stewart turned in a good performance for Tutbury by taking one off Darren Coady for a 3-1 lead for the home side at halfway.  After the break there was a good win for Jan Pawlazyck, whom rolled in a nice 30 on the way to beating Simon Smith. John Shilton played with his usual class to include a 39 in defeating Alan Davies. This is back to back wins for Tutbury who are now 6 from bottom but still only one point above the relegation spots. Defeat for The Cons leaves them six points behind Ivanhoe, having played a game more.The title race will no doubt take another turn next week as the top four play each other.

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At the top of the PJM Fascias Division One, Alrewas C made it four straight wins to go  a point clear after going to Stapenhill Institute and coming away 5-3 winners. Loz Kennerson was man of the match as he rolled in a lovely 37 as he beat Chris Mehick with the other three matches halved-Chris Sheldrake with Lee Cooke, Andy Gretton with Steve Lane and Steve Ford with Steve Butterworth. 

In second are Ivanhoe C , after they suffered a surprise 5-3 home defeat to relegation threatened SDSC C. Despite knocking in a nice 32, Gaz Dolman, for Ivanhoe,  could only manage a half with part time player Andy Rice. The were tremendous battling halves for the Bloors, Brian and Garton who took frames off Mick Kirk and Graham Measures respectively whilst it was another Bloor, Andy, who made the difference on the night beating Daz Wilson.Rolleston A won 5-3 at Spot On B to position themselves in third. Tom Bassett had a 37 on the way to beating The Spots’ Steve Gaunt and also on the winners podium for The Rollers was Rich O’Dell. Returning a double for the home side was Tony Clements whilst the game between Trevor Heath and Bobby Cliff was halved.

Dave Trueman and Ian Hiley were the men in form scoring doubles for Alrewas B as they kept up their promotion push against Burton Cons C. Adam Walton and Carl Poulton had to settle for draws in their matches against Simon Shilton and Greg Read.

Ivanhoe B went down 6-2 at home to Stapenhill B with Simon Piechowicz and Rob Kent the men on fire to win both their matches. Bren Mattley and Nick Sewell kept the score down by both winning a frame each for the Ashby side against Greg Britton and Bryan Sharratt.

SDSC B made it eight unbeaten in all competitions by beating bottom side Ivanhoe D 6-2. Chris Dewey top scored on the night with a 36 but it was only enough to win one against Keith Bale, who fought well. Ivanhoe’s other point came courtesy of Tony Tredger as he took one off the home team’s captain Steve Ayre. John Davis and Andy Goldingay scored comfortable wins to see The Snooker Centre home with Andy having won 19 of the 24 frames he’s played this season.

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In the Newton Fallowell Division Two, there was another of those rare draws when all four matches were halved. This was the case as Stapenhill C drew with Woodville A as no players managed anything over 20. Barry Waller,Neil Bourne, Tim Knopik and Paul Stewart all won a point for The Institute and Pat Ryan, Daz Scott, Tony Coleman and Bob Brooks doing similar for The Worriers.

Nick Harcombe won his 23rd frame from 26 this term including runs of 31 and 28 as he won for SDSC D at home against fellow promotion hopefuls Tutbury D. It was a tight match though ending 5-3 to the Snooker Centre as Ray Bancroft continued his fine form with another win for the home side. Ian Day pulled two back for the Tutters but the draw for Wallace Webb with Paul Atterbury got SDSC D over the line.

Spot On E are right in the mix and remain unbeaten-last week they got past Belmont D 5-3. Marvin Walker and James Bailey were both on form with Marvin having a 23 and James a 32 as they both won. Mat Groves replied with a double for Belmont and the game between Dave Goldsmith and Brett Craddock was halved.

Belmont’s other Division Two side, the C, went down 5-3 at home to Woodville B. Jack and Mark Gallagher were the men to do the damage with another point coming from Denis Moore in his draw with Dave Press. Terry Bosworth won both for the Servicemen as he beat Gary Green.

The Snookerettes of Spot On D went down 6-2 at Swad Cons B but not without a fight as Kate Stirling scored an impressive victory over Bob Birch. There were wins though for the home side’s Gaz Ward, Andy Boam and Dave Bodie who were made to work hard for each frame won.It looks to be an exciting end to the season as the top four are only separated by two points.