ALFRETON No 1 PUSH EDGEFOLD No 1 TO THE VERY BRINK

ANDREW BEARDSLEY ... black ball win

TWO remaining semi final places were up for grabs in the final group matches of the Captains Cup team aggregate competiion and the most fascinating battle saw Edgefold Matlock No 1 defeated by visitors Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1 but still retain narrow superiority on points difference to qualify.
Paul Pilsworth took the opening frame 68-55 to give the Amber Valley cuemen the start they needed and a black ball win from Andrew Beardsley kept them in the hunt.
Neil Parkinson edged the next 48-40 to halt their progress but a superb performance from Jamie Rowland with a 91-35 success over danger man Andy Russell left them just ten points adrift going into the concluding doubles leg.
But Rob Muxlow and in form Duncan Harwood battened down the hatches to ensure the Matlock team qualification by the skin of their teeth.

So with all three group winners decided, it left just one spot for the best runners-up and Matlock Club grabbed their opportunity with both hands to record one of their best ever victory margins, 359-159 against fellow challengers Edgefold No 2.
Keith Manlove achieved eighty points hauls in both his singles and doubles legs (the latter with Paul Holmes) after Graeme Wood had done likewise in the opener.

In the other match, Belper Strutt Club continued their upsurgence with a comfortable 329-234 triumph over Bolehill No 2 with Steve Bullock top scoring as only Keith Robertson registered for the vanquished but ultimately it wasn't enough due to Matlock Club's earlier exploits.

Captains Cup (Team Aggregate Competition): Group A: Edgefold Matlock No 2 159, Matlock Club 359; Group B: Belper Strutt Club 329, Bolehill Institute No 2 234; Group C: Edgefold Matlock No 1 253, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1 312.
Open Individual Handicap quarter final: Keith Manlove 2, Derek Smith 1; John Smith 2, Steve Bullock 0; Rob Muxlow 1, Ryan Taylor 2.
"B" (Intermediate) Individual Handicap quarter final: Paul Holmes 2, Keith Manlove 0.
Breaks: J Smith 42; R Muxlow 27; D Smith 24.

Group A                         P      W      L      F      A      Diff     Pts
Alfreton P M No 2          2       2       0     589   481    107       2
Matlock Club                  2       1       1     623   443    180       1
Edgefold Matlock No 2  2       0       2     376   664   -288       0

Group B                         P      W      L      F      A      Diff     Pts
Matlock Golf Club          2       2       0     656   543    113        2
Belper Strutt Club           2       1       1     595   544      51       1
Bolehill Institute No 2     2       0       2     511   675  -164        0

Group B                         P      W      L      F      A      Diff     Pts
Edgefold Matlock No 1   2       1       1     609   585      24       1
Alfreton P M No 1           2       1       1     563   554        9       1
Bolehill Institute No 1     2       1       1     574   607     -33       1

Qualification preference: 1. Most wins; if equal, points difference to decide; if still level points scored.
Top teams in each group qualify along with best runner-up, remainder enter plate competition.