IT WAS semi-final time in the Captains Cup team competition and Matlock Golf Club narrowly ended PJ'z No 1 team of Ripley's hopes of retaining the trophy with an enthralling success in a close encounter played at Bolehill Institute.
Ben Monk battled gamely with breaks of 42 and 27 on the night and got his side off to a great start but Ian McKay and Graham Jones won both their singles and doubles games to see their side home by 21 points on the traditional total aggregate system.
Bolehill Institute No 1 won the other semi against Belper's Jaxx Q Club No 2, pretty much sealing the deal after three frames after which they held a 99pts lead - Colin Marchington top scoring with 87 points - and despite a late rally from the hosts, that proved enough of a buffer.
In the Jimmy Harper Plate competition, Jaxx Q Club No 1 scored a convincing home victory over Matlock's Edgefold Club, who haven't enjoyed much success at that particular venue in recent weeks.
Alex Fisher top scored with 76 points whilst Paul Ogden notched a fine 30 break during his win.
The closest of all this week's fixtures saw Belper Strutt Club No 1 progress by just ten points at the Matlock Club, with the scores dead level going into the final frame.
Steve Bullock and Mark Newby saw their side home in the doubles, with Mark potting pink and black to secure a thriller, after Chris Woodhouse and Keith Manlove had been on target earlier for the hosts.
In the second semi final of the Hartshorne Cup 2-man team event, Ricki Slack and Colin Marchington overcame Keith Robertson and Sean O'Sullivan 3-1 in an all-Bolehill encounter.
And at the weekend Ricki was also runner-up in the Derbyshire Seniors (over 40s) event at Clay Cross, losing in a one-frame play-off to Paul Fowell, an ex-team-mate from their days at Georges Snooker Centre in Belper in the late 80s, and who is now a regular practicer at Jaxx Q Club.
This was richly deserved compensation for Paul who had been a gallant runner-up in the main Derbyshire individual event just a month earlier.
Another regular visitor to Jaxx Q Club, Troy Brett, who has also turned out once for Bolehill No 2 this season, lifted the Derbyshire Under 21s trophy on the same day.
Captains Cup semi final results: PJ'z Club Ripley No 1 310, Matlock Golf Club 331 (at Bolehill Institute); Jaxx Q Club Belper No 2 271, Bolehill Institute No 1 337.
Jimmy Harper Plate first round results: Jaxx Q Club Belper No 1 319, Edgefold Club Matlock 192; Matlock Club 286, Belper Strutt Club No 1 296.
