EDGEFOLD 1 EMERGE WITH HONOUR INTACT IN BIG CLASH

JASON ANKERS battened down the hatches in decider

THE OPENING jousts in the group stages of this seasons Captains Cup saw two closely contested matches and one convincing verdict and as in the Six Red Cup, the draw pitted the two Edgefold teams into head to head combat in Group C.
The first frame couldnt have been closer (literally) as Jason Ankers and Rob Dicken fought out a 63-63 tie, which did not require the black being respotted as in this competition the overall points aggregate alone decides the final outcome.
Sean Dobney's 80-64 success put the No 2 team into the ascendancy but Rob Muxlow's century points haul in the next swung the match back in the favour of the No 1 cuemen.
Muxlow had to fill in again in frame four due to holiday absences and, giving up the handicap penalty in such circumstances proved a little too much on this occasion with Tom Chambers winning 87-61 to narrow the deficit to just five points going into the deciding doubles leg.
But Ankers and Duncan Harwood battened down the hatches and ground out the required success 80-50 to give the No 1 team a 368-333 triumph.
Elsewhere, Belper Strutt Club edged out Crich Comrades 312-282 in Group A with Paul Jarrett and Keith Fretwell top scoring respectively.
Alfreton Palmer Morewood kept up their unbeaten record over Bolehill No 1 with a ready verdict of 348-210, Ralph Edgson and Guy Taylor totting up 95 and 94 points respectively with Ricki Slack's 39 break the only real highlight for the home team.
Captains Cup (Team Aggregate Competition) Group A: Bolehill Institute No 1 210, Alfreton Palmer Morewood 348; Group B: Edgefold Matlock No 1 368, Edgefold Matlock No 2 333; Group C: Crich Comrades 282, Belper Strutt Club 312.
Open Individual Handicap second round: John Smith 3, Ryan Taylor 1; Paul Holmes 1, Kevin Munnelly 3; Ade Smith 3, Steve Bullock 0.
Breaks: R Slack 39; K Munnelly 28; R Muxlow 27.