LEE HAGE LIFTS OPEN INDIVIDUAL HANDICAP TROPHY

LEE HAGE ... champ

POPULAR cueman Lee Hage of Clay Cross Brotherhood lifted the first silverware of this season's end of season finals as he overcame Edgefold No 2's Rob Muxlow 4-2 in an entertaining Open Individual Handicap clash played at the latter's home club.
Muxlow was first in with 15 from his first visit and set the pace in the opener looking to have done enough when the yellow put him 27 ahead with 25 left on the table. However, an attempted double on green caught the jaw and then unluckily clipped the brown into a baulk pocket at an angle for an unexpected foul.
Hage needed no second invitation to take green to pink and when Muxlow's thin cut on black stayed in the jaws, Hage made it 1-0 with an unlikely 63-61 success.
Muxlow remained undeterred though and continued in strong form, clearing yellow to pink to take the second 83-27 after Hage required all the colours despite his own contribution of 21.
Breaks of 32 and 37 in succession heralded the fact that Hage was beginning to find his stride with an 81-31 victory but Muxlow again levelled with a 23 break compiled of some fine long pots and giving him the next 72-18.
The fifth could have gone either way but with Muxlow four behind, Hage delivered a superb total colours clearance of 27 to go 3-2 up and with some solid scoring and safety play made the game safe with a 78-51 verdict in frame six despite Muxlow gaining a couple of the three required snookers.

Meanwhile Alfreton's Ben Monk, winner for the past two seasons, made it through to another OMYA Cup individual scratch final as he saw off Justin Weller 3-0 in the semi with a top run of 42.

Crich's Nick Berry also was in fine form in the B Individual Handicap as he scored a 3-0 win to progress to the final where team mate Ade Smith of Crich awaits.
In fact, it was a great week for the Tramwaymen all round as they scored fantastic wins of 5-0 and 4-1 in the T & M Motors Snooker League over Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1 and now move clear second.
Nick Berry top scored in the home encounter while Rob Mulliss was in barnstorming form on Hall Street with runs of 31,25, 23 and 21 in singles and doubles legs while Paul Trevett weighed in with 24.
John Smith was the sole victor for the Amber Valley cuemen over the two games.

Clay Cross Brotherhood edged out Edgefold No2 3-2 in the tight battle for the play offs with Graham Jones and Duncan Waring just prevailing 66-58 in the deciding doubles leg after Jamie Wright and Roy Taylor had fought back strongly for the hosts from 0-2 down.

Tansley Potters saw off Alfreton Palmer Morewood No3 4-1 with Radford Neville top scoring and Guy Taylor on target for the visitors.

At the rear end of the table, Bolehill Institute bounced back to form with a 4-1 defeat of Belper Royal British Legion who had gone ahead through Justin Weller but after that the visitors took control with Ian Birks break of 30 the highlight.

Open Individual Handicap final: Rob Muxlow 2 Lee Hage 4: 61-63(24); 82(20)-37(21); 31-81 (32,37); 72(23)-18; 56-87(27); 51-78.
League: Crich Comrades 5, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 0; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 1, Crich Comrades 4; Edgefold Matlock No2 2, Clay Cross Brotherhood 3; Tansley Potters 4, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 1; Belper Royal British Legion 1, Bolehill Institute 4.
Breaks (inc. comps): B Monk 42,37,30,29,20; L Hage 37,32,27,24,21; J Weller 34,29; R Mulliss 31,25,23,21; I Birks 30; R Muxlow 23,20; A Smith 23.

T & M Motors Snooker League        P        W        L      Pts 
Edgefold Matlock No 1                      15       14         1      56
Crich Comrades                                15         9         6      42
Edgefold Matlock No 2                      16         8         8      40 
Tansley Potters                                  14         6         8      36
Clay Cross Brotherhood                    14         7         7      35 
Alfreton P Morewood No 3                15         6         9      35                   
Bolehill Institute                                 15         7         8      32
Belper Royal British Legion               15         4       11      28
Alfreton P Morewood No 2                  0         0         0        0
Leading breaks: R Mulliss 51, D Smith 49.
Leading wins: S Burton 12/15; R Taylor 11/15; R Neville 10/14; M Newby & D Smith 10/15.

ROE SPARKLES AS BROTHERHOOD EDGE OUT TANSLEY

PAUL ROE

CLAY CROSS BROTHERHOOD ground out an excellent 3-2 win over Tansley Potters as the race for the final play-off positions takes shape in the latter stages of this season's T & M Motors Snooker League.
Joe Neville took the opener in a battle royale against his old team mate from the 80s Graham Jones with a 60-40 success but Ian McKay levelled in the next courtesy of a black ball decider.
Paul Roe was in sparkling form as he stormed to an 87-28 victory in frame three but it was level again at 2-2 after Steve Hawkins' 65-35 verdict.
But McKay teamed up with Duncan Waring in the concluding doubles leg to steer the home side to what could yet be an all-important win.

Also triumphing in a decider were Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 who edged out Edgefold No2 3-2 with Phil Longden and young Cole Smith showing great resolve to take the deciding pairs frame 54-26.
John Smith had top scored to equalise in the previous frame after Jamie Wright's 72-37 victory had put the Matlock side ahead.

Alfreton No3 took an excellent 4-1 win from Bolehill Institute with Ady Lowe taking each of his singles and doubles frames on pink and black respectively and Jack Lowe winning both his regular frame and as the reserve under the points penalty.
Colin Marchington had earlier taken the opener for the hosts 66-65.

The other fixture saw Edgefold No1 extend their unsassailable advantage at the top as they defeated the recently improved Belper Royal British Legion 4-1.
Steve Burton (28 break) top scored in winning his twelfth frame out of fifteen whilst Mark Newby, another player to enjoy a fine season, was the sole victor early doors for the visitors.

In the "B" Individual Handicap semi final, Ade Smith was in great nick as he booked his place in the final with a 3-1 success including a black ball decider and an excellent run of 31.

T & M Motors Snooker League week 15: Clay Cross Brotherhood 3, Tansley Potters 2; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 3, Edgefold Matlock No2 2; Bolehill Institute 1, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No3 4; Edgefold Matlock No1 4, Belper Royal British Legion 1.
Breaks: A Smith 31; S Burton 28; R Muxlow 27; D Smith 25.

T & M Motors Snooker League        P        W        L      Pts 
Edgefold Matlock No 1                      15       14         1      56
Edgefold Matlock No 2                      15         8         7      38 
Alfreton P Morewood No 3                14         6         8      34                   
Crich Comrades                                13         7         6      33
Clay Cross Brotherhood                    13         6         7      32 
Tansley Potters                                  13         5         8      32
Bolehill Institute                                 14         6         8      28
Belper Royal British Legion               14         4       10      27
Alfreton P Morewood No 2                  0         0         0        0
Leading breaks: R Mulliss 51, D Smith 49.
Leading wins: S Burton 12/15; D Smith 10/13; R Taylor & M Newby 10/14.

THRILLS AND SPILLS ALL THE WAY IN CUP COMPETITIONS

ADY LOWE

THE SEMI FINALS of the Captains Cup and the first round of the Jimmy Harper Plate team aggregate competitions threw up a trio of grandstand finishes that were a great advert for the league's handicap system with each of them going down to the final pink and black.
The most remarkable turnaround came as Alfreton Palmer Morewood No3 entertained Crich Comrades with a man down and Carlos Zaragoza having to play a second frame under the penalty as reserve.
He was first up in his regular frame which saw a tight battle going the way of the Tramwaymen with Ade Smith edging it 77-68.
Another close encounter also went Crich's way in the next with Nick Berry gaining a 67-59 success and after Martin Byard's 77-31 verdict, the signs began to look ominous for the home team, trailing by 63pts.
Zaragoza did his bit as he engineered a 66-49 scoreline second time around but that still left a mammoth task for the two Lowes, Ady and Jack in the remaining doubles leg.
But cometh the hour, cometh the men as they produced one of the performances of the year to take a magnificent 81-27 win and snatch a final place 305-297 against all the odds.

Almost equally exciting snooker took place at Belper Royal British Legion, who booked their own final place with a 286-267 defeat of Bolehill Institute.
Wayne Shooter took the opener by a convincing 35 points and Mark Newby added to it to put the hosts 40 up after two frames.
Simon Zoppi with a 64-38 triumph and Ian Birks winning 74-47 meant a slight lead for the visitors though this was cancelled out by the handicap which actually meant the doubles frame was played off level for the match in effect.
With Bolehill leading by 16pts and just two reds left, a cunning snooker from Newby combined with the black going over a corner pocket meant despite a successful escape, the red-black combination put them back in the game and then a red-pink had the scores almost level.
Newby with an excellent yellow, green and brown put Belper into the ascendancy and an unorthodox finish from Shooter sealed the deal as he pulled off an incredible cocked hat double into the middle pocket followed by a double / around the houses safety shot that went straight into the baulk pocket without touching the sides!

Keith Gregory

Meanwhile the Jimmy Harper Plate first round saw Graham Jones of Clay Cross Brotherhood take pink and black in the doubles to secure a thrilling 294-291 success despite some fine play by Edgefold No2's youngster Tommy Smith earlier in the night.

The Williams Cup billiards individual handicap final also took place with an all-Mayfield clash and this too went down to the wire as Keith Gregory defeated Mark Jennings 150-141 for the all-important club bragging rights.

Captains Cup (Team Aggregate) semi finals: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No3 305, Crich Comrades 297; Belper Royal British Legion 286, Bolehill Institute 267.
Jimmy Harper Plate (Team Aggregate consolation) first round: Edgefold Matlock No2 291, Clay Cross Bortherhood 294.
Breaks: R Slack 27; I Birks 24.

Williams Cup (Billiards Individual Handicap) final: Keith Gregory (Mayfield Institute) 150, Mark Jennings (Mayfield Institute) 141.

EDGEFOLD 1 SECURE TITLE WITH SEAN'S LATE CLINCHER

SEAN DOBNEY

CONGRATULATIONS to EDGEFOLD No1 who are this season's T & M Motors Snooker League champions after a thrilling 3-2 home win over Tansley Potters which puts them in an unassailable position at the top of the ladder.
Duncan Harwood took the opener 56-33 to get back on the winning trail after a minor lull but Radford Neville soon equalised in a tight encounter with a 66-58 verdict.
Steve Hawkins took a black ball decider in the next to edge Tansley back in front despite Steve Burton's 29 break earlier in the frame but Martin Barwick quickly levelled for 2-2.
With Hawkins teaming up with Joe Neville for the concluding doubles, the stage looked set for a momentous victory with an 18 lead and only three balls remaining until "Captain Fantastic" Sean Dobney (who had started with a run of 25) stepped in with a glorious blue, doubled pink and clinical black to take the frame to a re-spot.
And as if that wasn't enough he then proceeded to despatch a long diagonal match winner on the extra ball into the corner pocket to the tumultuous applause of the club membership.

Alfreton Palmer Morewood No3 bounced back to form with a 4-1 defeat of second placed Edgefold No2. Jack Lowe and Alex Fisher soon had them two to the good and although Roy Taylor pulled one back, Carlos Zaragoza sealed the deal and then teamed up with Lowe for the extra point.

Crich Comrades edged out Bolehill Institute 3-2 with Ade Smith fluking a re-spotted black in the third frame and then Martin Byard making the game safe after Colin Marchington had put the visitors in front. Paul Trevett top scored for the hosts with an excellent all round display.

Belper Royal British Legion took their second 4-1 win on the trot with a defeat of Clay Cross Brotherhood, Justin Weller taking the opener by a single point and Wayne Shooter top scoring with Graham Jones' black ball decider (one of four on the evening!) the only highlight for the battling visitors.

In the competitions, there were 3-0 victories for Rob Muxlow and Ricki Slack who were both away from home in the handicap and scratch events respectively.

On the billiards front, there was more glory for Mayfield's Mark Jennings and Keith Gregory this time in the scotch doubles event with a couple of thirty plus breaks giving them a sizeable early lead before a strong Tansley fightback including a run of 48 saw them get to within 12 points at the end of another exciting contest.

T & M Motors Snooker League: Edgefold Matlock No1 3, Tansley Potters 2; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No3 4, Edgefold Matlock No2 1; Crich Comrades 3, Bolehill Institute 2; Belper Royal British Legion 4, Clay Cross Brotherhood 1.
Breaks (inc. comps): S Burton 29,21; R Slack 28,22; S Dobney 25.

Kenworthy Cup billiards scotch doubles: Mayfield Institute 200, Tansley Potters 188.
Breaks: Mayfield 33,31; Tansley 48,30.

T & M Motors Snooker League        P        W        L      Pts 
Edgefold Matlock No 1                      14       13         1      52
Edgefold Matlock No 2                      14         8         6      36 
Crich Comrades                                13         7         6      33
Tansley Potters                                  12         5         7      30
Alfreton P Morewood No 3                13         5         8      30                   
Clay Cross Brotherhood                    12         5         7      28 
Bolehill Institute                                 13         6         7      27
Alfreton P Morewood No 1                12         5         7      27
Belper Royal British Legion               13         4         9      26
Alfreton P Morewood No 2                  0         0         0        0
Leading breaks: R Mulliss 51, D Smith 49.
Leading wins: S Burton 11/14; R Taylor 10/13.

MARK SNATCHES VICTORY FOR MAYFIELD AT LAST GASP

MARK JENNINGS of Mayfield

THE BILLIARDS competitions are throwing up some real thrillers and the Captains Cup final was no exception with Mayfield Institute pulling off a thrilling victory over Whitworth Institute  by 258pts to 253.
Rob Lowe put up one his best performances of the season in defeating winning-most player Keith Gregory 150-108 and Jim McCann got to within a whisker of victory, requiring just six more points to reach his designated target of 109.
But Mark Jennings kept his nerve and reeled off the twenty or so points he himself needed for a 150-103 success and a five point victory overall.

The T & M Motors Snooker League saw a great win for Edgefold No2 who whitewashed Crich Comrades 5-0 in what had previously looked a closely matched contest between teams fighting for the runners up spot.
Roy Taylor took the first 51-33 before young Tommy Smith made it two with a 50-29 success. Jamie Wright continued his good recent run with a 73-37 triumph and Sam Kniveton extended his form from the previous week with a 65-49 verdict.
Wright then teamed up with Rob Muxlow in the concluding doubles leg to complete the nap hand.

Edgefold No1 continue to set their scorching pace as they took a 4-1 win from Clay Cross Brotherhood.
Sean Dobney (33 break) added to James Travis' opening salvo to put his team two up and although Duncan Waring pulled one back, Steve Burton sealed the deal in the next.

Bolehill Institute edged out Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 3-2 although Des Smith got the visitors off to a flyer with a 71-20 success.
Ricki Slack (26 break) and Simon Zoppi (20 break) nudged their side ahead before a pivotal black ball success from Ian Birks put the game to bed. Smith teamed up with Ben Christon to reduce the arrears in a tight doubles leg.

Belper Royal British Legion secured one of their best results of the season with a 4-1 defeat of Tansley Potters. Steve Bullock top scored and Mark Newby put the result beyond doubt with a black ball verdict in frame three. The father and son combination of Steve and Joe Hawkins finally got the Potters on the board with Hawkins junior taking the blue, pink and black.

Captains Cup (billiards): Mayfield Institute 258, Whitworth Institute 253.

T & M Motors Snooker League week 13: Edgefold Matlock No2 5, Crich Comrades 0; Clay Cross Brotherhood 1, Edgefold Matlock No1 4; Bolehill Institute 3, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 2; Tansley Potters 1, Belper Royal Britisih Legion 4.
Breaks: S Dobney 33; R Slack 26; S Zoppi 20.

T & M Motors Snooker League        P        W        L      Pts 
Edgefold Matlock No 1                      13       12         1      49
Edgefold Matlock No 2                      13         8         5      35 
Crich Comrades                                12         6         6      30
Clay Cross Brotherhood                    11         5         6      28 
Tansley Potters                                  11         5         6      28
Alfreton P Morewood No 1                12         5         7      27
Alfreton P Morewood No 3                12         4         8      26                   
Bolehill Institute                                 12         6         6      25
Belper Royal British Legion               12         3         9      22
Alfreton P Morewood No 2                  0         0         0        0
Leading breaks: R Mulliss 51, D Smith 49.
Leading wins: S Burton 11/13; M Newby, R Taylor & D Smith 9/12.

EDGEFOLD TEAMS FILL TOP TWO PLACES AS SAM SHINES

THE BATTLE for the play-off places in this season's T & M Motors Snooker League is hotting up with any number of teams involved and Edgefold No2 moved into second position for the first time following a 3-2 victory at Clay Cross Brotherhood.
Young Sam Kniveton, after a couple of near misses, gained his first singles success for the Matlock side and did it with aplomb with a fine all round display to take an 88-53 success against dual former Derbyshire champion Graham Jones.
Duncan Waring levelled matters with a 71-54 verdict but another fledgling performer Tommy Smith continued his excellent first season with a 56-55 win for the visitors.
Jamie Wright was in fine form to take the fourth frame 60-34  before Waring (27 break) and Paul Roe (28 break) amassed 90pts in the concluding doubles leg but it was all too late to affect the overall result.

Tansley Potters took a 3-2 triumph from Alfreton Palmer Morewood No3.
The two Nevilles, Joe and son Radford soon had them 2-0 to the good before Ady Lowe edged a tight third frame and then Carlos Zaragoza, playing as the reserve, equalised soon afterwards.
But Joe Neville teamed up with Steve Hawkins to steady the ship in the final doubles leg and fire a 61-48 decisive salvo.

IAN BIRKS ... 34 clearance

Bolehill Institute continued their recent resurgence and are now off the bottom following the withdrawal of Alfreton No2, with the points from their games being expunged from the league table.
The hosts defeated Belper RBL 4-1 with Colin Marchington, Ricki Slack and Simon Zoppi reeling off the first three frames. Justin Weller (24 break) pulled one back but a superb 34 clearance from Ian Birks to take the doubles leg on the final black rubber-stamped the evening for the victors.

In the competitions, Nick Berry edged three tight frames to qualify for the B Individual Handicap semi final while Rob Muxlow moved into the same stages of the regular Individual Handicap with a 3-0 success.
T & M Motors Snooker League: Clay Cross Brotherhood 2, Edgefold Matlock No2 3; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No3 2, Tansley Potters 3; Bolehill Institute 4, Belper Royal British Legion 1.
Breaks (inc. comps): I Birks 34; P Roe 28; D Waring 27; J Weller 24; R Muxlow 23.

T & M Motors Snooker League        P        W        L      Pts 
Edgefold Matlock No 1                      12       11         1      45
Edgefold Matlock No 2                      12         7         5      30 
Crich Comrades                                11         6         5      30
Clay Cross Brotherhood                    10         5         5      27 
Tansley Potters                                  10         5         5      27
Alfreton P Morewood No 3                12         4         8      26                   
Alfreton P Morewood No 1                11         5         6      25
Bolehill Institute                                 11         5         6      22
Belper Royal British Legion               11         2         9      18
Alfreton P Morewood No 2                  0         0         0        0
Leading breaks: R Mulliss 51, D Smith 49.
Leading wins: S Burton 10/12; R Neville & D Harwood 8/10.

BOLEHILL AND TANSLEY SERVE UP A THRILLING CLIMAX

RICKI SLACK

A THRILLING climax to the Elliott Carpets Billiards League saw an incredible turnaround which culminated in Tansley Potters and Bolehill Institute finishing the season locked together on 132 points each with Mayfield Institute just missing out a point adrift on 131.
Mayfield took on Whitworth Institute in their last match, needing a sizeable success to put the pressure on the other challengers and were off to a flying start with Keith Gregory (35 break) taking the first 150-85 and thus ensuring he would claim the trophy for most league wins.
Jim McCann was in no mood to lie down however and his 150-93 success left the door open for the aforementioned pair of teams with the final scores locked at 10pts each.
In a tight opener at Tansley's Jackhill Farm venue, Bolehill's Andrew Brough just managed to see it out with a 150-141 success against a persistent Joe Neville. This meant both teams were still very much in contention but Steve Hawkins started in barnstorming style to race 80-18 ahead with the aid of a 35 break in the next.
However, a timely run of 48 from Ricki Slack brought him back into the game and from thereon there was a complete turnaround as he eventually ran out a 150-114 victor from what looked a forlorn position to give Bolehill a 14-9 triumph and leave the overall season's points all square.
A decision from three-ball secretary Jim McCann will be made in due course but it is possible the trophy will be shared for six months each with no clear ruling for a tie in the billiards league (the snooker league is nowadays decided by most wins if level on points).

Meanwhile the T & M Motors Snooker League saw Crich Comrades move into second place with a 4-1 win over Clay Cross Brotherhood, aided by the inactivity of  Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2.
Martin Byard put the Tramwaymen into an early lead with a 79-56 verdict and Nick Berry fired in a superb 30 break to make it 2-0 soon afterwards.
Graham Jones pulled one back for the visitors but wins for Ade Smith and the Byard / Phil Leverton combination in the doubles completed a great night for the hosts.

Leaders Edgefold No1 were missing a few personnel but still did the business with a 3-2 defeat of Alfreton No1.
Des Smith inflicted only the second defeat of the season on winning-most player Steve Burton and Phil Longden was also in superb nick, amassing 89 points for the Amber Valley cuemen.
But wins for Scott Brooks and James Travis in both singles and doubles ultimately kept the train on the rails for the Edgefold boys.

Edgefold No2 secured a 3-2 win over Tansley Potters thanks mainly to their youngsters as Jacob Bradbury and Sam Kniveton teamed up to take the deciding doubles leg after Tommy Smith had pulled them level at 2-2. Radford Neville top scored for the vanquished with 83 points.

There was also an excellent result for Alfreton No3 who took home a 4-1 success from Belper Royal British Legion.
Carlos Zaragoza took a high scoring contest 87-61 and although Mark Newby pulled the Legionnaires level, the two Lowes Ady and Jack combined sublimely to take the remaining three frames for the victors.

Elliott Carpets Billiards League: Mayfield Institute 10, Whitworth Institute 10; Tansley Potters 9, Bolehill Institute 14.
Breaks: R Slack 48; S Hawkins 35; K Gregory 35.

T & M Motors Snooker League: Crich Comrades 4, Clay Cross Brotherhood 1; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 2, Edgefold Matlock No1 3; Edgefold Matlock No2 3, Tansley Potters 2; Belper Royal British Legion 1, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No3 4.
Breaks (inc. comps): N Berry 30; A Smith 23; I McKay 22.

Elliott Carpets Billiards League       P     W      D       L     Pts
Bolehill Institute                                  12       7       1       4     132
Tansley Potters                                   12      5       1       6     132
Mayfield Institute                                 12      6       2       4     131
Whitworth Institute                              12      3       1       8     116
Leading breaks: J Neville & J McCann 73.
Leading wins: K Gregory 8/12; J McCann, J Neville & A Brough 7/12.

T & M Motors Snooker League        P        W        L      Pts 
Edgefold Matlock No 1                      12       11         1      45
Crich Comrades                                12         6         6      32
Alfreton P Morewood No 2                10         6         4      29
Alfreton P Morewood No 1                12         6         6      28
Edgefold Matlock No 2                      12         6         6      28 
Alfreton P Morewood No 3                12         5         7      27                   
Tansley Potters                                  11         4         7      27
Clay Cross Brotherhood                    10         5         5      26 
Belper Royal British Legion               12         4         8      24
Bolehill Institute                                 11         4         7      19
Leading breaks: R Mulliss 51, D Smith 49.
Leading wins: S Burton 10/12; M Newby 9/12; D Harwood 8/10.