BEN AND SEAN STAR IN EARLY FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR

SEAN DOBNEY ... barrage of breaks to open season

THE BREAKS were flying in the opening round of T & M Motors Snooker League fixtures with Ben Monk and Sean Dobney the main protagonists, en route to helping their teams to respective early successes.
Edgefold travelled to Alfreton No 1 and produced one of their best performances in recent times, taking a 4-1 victory with debutant Steve Clarke making a winning start, after a tight battle 72-60.
Des Smith with a black ball victory levelled matters in the next before James Travis turned on the style with a 62-10 salvo in frame three.
Captain Sean Dobney piled on the pressure in the remaining singles and doubles legs as he notched runs of 39,32,23 and 21 whilst Travis chipped in with his own contribution of 30 as the Matlock cuemen achieved landslide verdicts of 87-32 and 98-27.

BEN MONK

Ben Monk surged to the top of the breaks chart the very next evening however with his effort of 54 helping him to a century points haul in Alfreton No 2's opening frame at Bolehill No 2.
They raced 3-0 up before Keith Robertson halted progress with winning appearances in both singles and doubles to narrow the gap to the minimum margin at the curtain call.

Bolehill No 1 somehow claimed all five points off Crich No 1, with Ricki Slack and Simon Zoppi each taking victory thanks to their opponent going in-off on the final black, and in Ade Smith's case actually potting it first only to see the cue-ball disappear behind it. Colin Marchington had earlier been in fine form for the hosts.
Elsewhere, Whitworth Institute scored a commendable 3-2 win over last time's runners-up Belper Strutt Club with captain Geoff Brailsford taking both frames he contested after Justin Weller had nudged the visitors in front.

And reigning champions Matlock Golf Club eased back into business with a similar win at Crich No 2. Ian  McKay top scored as Graham Jones and Les Mooney eked out a 3-2 victory by taking the deciding doubles leg. Dale Shaw and Jack Lowe had their potting boots on for the Tramwaymen.

League week 1: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1 1, Edgefold Matlock 4; Bolehill Institute No 2 2, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 2 3; Bolehill Institute No 1 5, Crich Comrades No 1 0; Whitworth Institute 3, Belper Strutt Club 2; Crich Comrades No 2 2, Matlock Golf Club 3.
Breaks: B Monk 54; S Dobney 39,32,23,21; J Travis 30; S Bullock 25; G Shirley 22; C Marchington 21; A Cupit 20.