GOLF CLUB LEAGUE CHAMPS, CRICH ARE CUP VICTORS

MATLOCK GOLF CLUB League champions L-R: Ian McKay, Tony Blant, Graham Jones and Paul Roe.
Also played: Charlie Hodgkinson and Chris Parker.

MATLOCK GOLF CLUB became a new name on the list of T & M Snooker League winners as their decisive 4-1 success over Belper Strutt Club crowned them worthy champions at the end of another exciting regular season.
With either team still in the hunt going into the final fixture, along with onlookers Bolehill No 1, it was perhaps the tightest finish yet to a league season and seemingly ever more so when Steve Bullock took a tight opening frame 72-65 to put the visitors ahead.
Ian McKay levelled matters on the pink in the next however before a barnstorming performance from captain Graham Jones, amassing a tremendous 99-25 scoreline made it 2-1 and ensured he took the prize for the winning most league player.
Tony Blant then turned on the style in the remaining singles and doubles legs, concluding with a fine run of 27 to send the golfers on their way in a blaze of glory.

CRICH COMRADES Captains Cup winners L-R: Ade Smith, Cliff Gould and Nick Berry.
Also played on the night: John Smith, other squad members: Paul Trevett, Keith Fretwell and Ady Lowe.

Two nights later it was a case of role reversal as Crich Comrades rose to the challenge to defeat the Golfers 365-199 and avenge their loss to the same rivals in the earlier six red cup final.
John Smith with a 95-42 success followed by 80-35 and 89-35 wins respectively by Cliff Gould and Ade Smith pretty much had sealed the deal after the opening three frames leaving a mammoth task ahead for the new league champions.
And although they battled to the end, Nick Berry and the doubles pairing of Smith and Gould ground out closely fought frames to complete a fantastic night for the Tramwaymen, who adjusted to the lightning fast table conditions at Edgefold with some aplomb.

In the final pairs semi final, Ricki Slack and Keith Robertson progressed to meet Steve Bullock and Mark Newby in the remaining contest.
League results: Matlock Golf Club 4, Belper Strutt Club 1.
Captains Cup (team aggregate) final: Matlock Golf Club 199, Crich Comrades 365.
Breaks: T Blant 27; G Jones 25; R Slack 24.

T & M Motors Snooker League   P        W      L     Pts

Matlock Golf Club                         18       12       6     53

Bolehill Institute No 1                    18       13       5     51

Belper Strutt Club                         18         8     10     48

Crich Comrades Club                   18       11       7     47

Edgefold Matlock                          18         8     10     46

Bolehill Institute No 2                    18         7     11     38

Matlock Club                                 18         4     14     32

Leading wins: G Jones 13/18; C Marchington 12/16.
Leading breaks: R Dicken 40, I McKay 39.

THREE TEAMS CLING ONTO TITLE HOPES IN FINAL FIXTURE

MARK SAYER found his range for BOLEHILL No 2

AS HAS been the case in recent seasons, everything rests on the final league match of the season after Bolehill No 2's 3-2 defeat of Matlock Golf Club left the latter needing to defeat Belper Strutt Club this week to lift the T & M Motors Snooker League championship trophy.
Strutt themselves can retain the silverware with a maximum points win while four points will see them leap frog their final day opponents into the runners up spot.
Meanwhile, Bolehill No 1 will be hoping neither team attain their remaining goals in order that they may hold on to top spot having completed their fixtures already.
But their No 2 team certainly did them a favour as Ian Peacock eeked out a 76-74 win in a thrilling opener and then Mark Sayer opened his account for the season to add the second.
Keith Robertson (22 break) soon made it 3-0 before the golfers realised they needed to hit back fast and Chris Parker (24 break) took each of singles and doubles legs to reduce the deficit to the minimum margin.
Steve Bullock reached the final of the "B" Individual Handicap for the fourth time in six years as he defeated Keith Manlove 3-0 to gain some compensation for his defeat by the reverse scoreline in the Open Handicap to the same player.
League: Bolehill Institute No 2 3, Matlock Golf Club 2.
Breaks: C Parker 24; S Bullock 24; K Robertson 22.

T & M Motors Snooker League   P        W      L     Pts

Bolehill Institute No 1                   18       13       5     51

Matlock Golf Club                         17       11       6     49

Crich Comrades Club                   18       11       7     47

Belper Strutt Club                         17         8       9     47

Edgefold Matlock                          18         8     10     46

Bolehill Institute No 2                    18         7     11     38

Matlock Club                                 18         4     14     32

Leading wins: C Marchington 12/16; G Jones 12/17; M Newby 11/17.
Leading breaks: R Dicken 40, I McKay 39.