MAREHAY EDGE THE BATTLE OF THE LEAGUE LEADERS

THE leaders of A and B Divisions clashed this week due to the integrated nature of the fixture list and normal service was resumed for Marehay Miners Welfare after last week's blip as they earned a narrow 3-2 victory at Belper Strutt Club No 1.
Ben Monk (breaks of 35 and 30) and Andrew Gratton (36 and 20) were in no mood to offer any second chances as the visitors bossed the early proceedings.

MARK NEWBY replied in kind with a 30 break for Belper Strutt No 1.

However, Mark Newby, with a 30 break of his own, and Paul Jarrett fought back well to level matters before Monk and partner Andrew Beardsley re-assumed authority in the deciding doubles frame.

Matlock's Edgefold Club, fresh from taking maximum points last week, took the first four frames against Belper Strutt Club No 2 with Duncan Harwood top scoring and Rob Muxlow edging the fourth on the black.

But the visitors did get on the board in the concluding doubles, with Chris Stubbs notching a run of 25 for good measure.

The Bolehill teams had contrasting fortunes with the No 1 team losing 4-1 at Matlock Golf Club, their solitary point coming via Ricki Slack's black ball win over Graham Jones after even that looked a forlorn hope from around 40 adrift with just three reds left.

Chris Parker remained undefeated in the few games he has played  for the hosts this season, after Chris Drabble's quadruple on a re-spotted black had tipped the balance their way in frame three.

There was better news for Bolehill No 2 as they  overcame Matlock Club 4-1 at home.
Keith Robertson edged out Paul Holmes on the black in the opener and after the in-form Graeme Wood had levelled matters, Ian Peacock's narrow win in frame three proved to be the springboard for the success.

And in the Jimmy Harper Plate competition first round, Jaxx Q Club of Belper defeated Gladiators Social Club of Matlock, the highlight of which was a superb break of 70 from Mark Jones which went a long way towards deciding the aggregate-points format on the evening.

League week 14 results: Belper Strutt No 1 2, Marehay MW / PJ'z 3; Edgefold Matlock 4, Belper Strutt No 2 1; Matlock Golf Club 4, Bolehill Inst No 1 1; Bolehill Inst No 2 4, Matlock Club 1.
Jimmy Harper Team Plate 1st round: Jaxx Q Club Belper bt Gladiators SC Matlock (agg pts).
B Div Individual Handicap semi final: K Holmes (Jaxx Q Club) 2, D Martin (Gladiators SC) 1.

Breaks: M Jones 70; A Gratton 36,20; B Monk 35,32,30,30; M Newby 30;
K Holmes 29; C Stubbs 25; R Muxlow 21; A Winson 21.

A Division                        P      W      L      Pts
Marehay MW / PJ'z        13      10      3       44
Bolehill Institute No 1      14       8       6       39
Edgefold Matlock            14       7       7       35
Matlock Golf Club           13       7       6       34
Jaxx Q Club Belper        13       7       6       26
Leading breaks: B Monk 47 & 44; I McKay 44.
Leading wins: B Monk & R Slack 12; A Gratton 10.

B Division                        P      W      L      Pts
Belper Strutt No 1           14       9       5       39
Gladiators SC Matlock    13       7       6       36
Bolehill Institute No 2      14       6       8       33
Belper Strutt No 2           14       5       9       32
Matlock Club                   14       2     12       21
Leading breaks: T Brett 58 & 54; S Bullock 45.
Leading wins: C Stubbs, W Shooter, I Peacock & M Newby 9.