EDGEFOLD SECURE SECOND AND CONS MAKE PLAY-OFFS

ROB MUXLOW ... black ball win for EDGEFOLD

THE final round of games in this seasons Highfields Farm Butchers Premier Division saw two barnstorming finales with both runners-up spot and the final play-off place up for grabs.
Belper Strutt No 1 entertained Edgefold Club with the victors guaranteed of the runners up spot and ace cueist Martyn Taylor drew first blood with a 77-33 win over Mark Newby, complemented by a break of 39.

Rob Muxlow (24 break) secured a vital 57-56 verdict over Paul Jarrett in the next on the black but Strutt weren't going to go down lightly and Ben Monk, the man for the big occasion, pulled one back with a 78-58 success over Neil Parkinson.

Wayne Shooter equalised shortly after a hard fought battle with Duncan Harwood so all rested on the concluding doubles frame.

And it was Taylor and Harwood who took the spoils 69-10 as they froze out Monk and partner Steve Bullock to earn their side the coveted second placing.

The fight for the final play-off spot for the Jaeger Trophy was possibly even more of a cliff-hanger, as with Belper Strutt No 2 gaining five points from their final fixture, Matlock Cons knew a defeat at Bolehill Institute No 2 would see them out of the top four, which they had occupied for almost the entire season.

And after Ian Peacock had put the home side ahead with a convincing display, it needed calm nerves from firstly Charlie Hodgkinson and then Chris Parker (with a black ball win) to steer the visitors in front.

Keith Robertson maintained his unbeaten record since returning in late season to equalise but plenty more drama was to follow.

Mick Bunting and Peacock led 52-39 in the all-important final frame against Parker and Jack Lynch with just three balls remaining but, after opportunities came and went, it was Lynch who saved the day for Cons, taking them all in one visit in a quite pulsating finish to the regular season.

Elsewhere, Ricki Slack (36 break) came from 2-1 down to edge out Keith Manlove in the Open Individual Handicap semi final.

League week 21 results: Belper Strutt No 1 2, Edgefold Matlock 3; Bolehill Inst No 2 2, Matlock Cons 3; Belper Strutt No 2 5, Matlock Club 0 (walkover due to the latter being unable to raise a team on the advertised or any alternative dates).
Open Indiv Handicap semi final: Ricki Slack 3, Keith Manlove 2.
Breaks: M Taylor 39; R Slack 36; R Muxlow 24; B Monk 22.

Highfields Farm Butchers Premier Division
                                         P      W      L      Pts
Bolehill Institute No 1     18      15       3       59
Edgefold Matlock           18      13       5       54
Belper Strutt No 1          18      10       8       53
Matlock Cons                 18        9       9       45
Belper Strutt No 2          18        9       9       44
Bolehill Institute No 2     18        6     12       37
Matlock Club                  18        1     17       23
Leading breaks: M Taylor 74; B Monk 53.
Leading wins: M Taylor 15/16; R Slack 14/18.

BOLEHILL No 1 RIDE AN EDGEFOLD STORM TO TAKE TITLE

CHAMPIONS - BOLEHILL No 1: L-R: Simon Zoppi, Ian Birks, Colin Marchington,
Ricki Slack and Andrew Brough.

BOLEHILL INSTITUTE are Highfields Farm Butchers Premier Division champions as their No 1 team eventually got over the line in their final league match at Edgefold Club.
A black ball win by Ian Birks over Rob Muxlow secured the one point they required for the silverware in the fourth frame and Birks followed up by taking pink and black in the concluding doubles contest (partnered by Andrew Brough) to reduce the eventual deficit to the minimum margin.

This is the first time in the history of the club one of their teams has topped the highest division, but things weren't looking quite so positive in the early exchanges.

The home side came out of the traps in flying fashion with Jason Ankers showing sterling ability around the black spot to win 84-42 after Ricki Slack had edged back into the frame and then Duncan Harwood producing his performance of the season in seeing off Colin Marchington 83-35.

Martyn Taylor made sure of the most individual wins award as he notched a 47 break en route to defeating Simon Zoppi 81-54.

Edgefold and Belper Strutt No 1 will battle it out for the runners-up spot in their match next week as they each stand on 51 points with the latter defeating Bolehill No 2 4-1.

Steve Bullock top scored for the victors and also played his part in securing the doubles frame on the deciding black, partnered by Wayne Shooter.
Mark Gwynne-Jones achieved the sole register for the vanquished.

Belper Strutt No 2 kept alive their chances of reaching the remaining play off place as they won 3-2 at the other contenders, Matlock Cons, though will still be hoping the latter slip up in their final game in order to have a chance of capitalising.


RICHARD DEAKIN ... top scored for Cons

Richard Deakin top scored in putting the hosts ahead before a fantastic performance by Adam Winson levelled things up.

Dave Needham eventually made sure of victory with a black ball win in frame four before Chris Parker and Charlie Hodgkinson edged what could be a vital doubles frame at the death.

Martyn Taylor and Chris Parker will contest the OMYA Cup individual scratch competition final as they each won their semis in decisive fashion with Taylor compiling a run of 60 and Parker 35, whilst Chris Stubbs and Adam Winson earlier reached the Pairs final.

League week 20 results: Edgefold Matlock 3, Bolehill Inst No 1 2; Belper Strutt No 1 4, Bolehill Inst No 2 1; Matlock Cons 2, Belper Strutt No 2 3.
OMYA Cup (Indiv Scratch) semi finals: Ricki Slack 0, Martyn Taylor 3; Paul Ogden 1, Chris Parker 3.
Denis Morton Trophy (Pairs Handicap) semi final: Chris Parker / Nick Kay 1, Chris Stubbs / Adam Winson 3.
Breaks: M Taylor 60,47,20; C Parker 35,22,20; A Winson 22; D Harwood 22;
R Slack 22; I Birks 21.

Highfields Farm Butchers Premier Division
                                         P      W      L      Pts
Bolehill Institute No 1     18      15       3       59
Edgefold Matlock           17      12       5       51
Belper Strutt No 1          17      10       7       51
Matlock Cons                 17        8       9       42
Belper Strutt No 2          17        8       9       39
Bolehill Institute No 2     17        6     11       35
Matlock Club                  17        1     16       23
Leading breaks: M Taylor 74; B Monk 53.
Leading wins: M Taylor 14/15; R Slack 14/18; P Jarrett & C Marchington 11/16.