TRAMWAYMEN EDGE AN EARLY SEASON SIX RED THRILLER

ADE SMITH ... winning start

CRICH COMRADES were off to a winning start in Group A of the Bob McCartin Six Red Cup as they edged out Bolehill Institute 4-3 on the deciding black in the larger group of four.
With teams largely aiming to avoid the bottom placings in each section which might signal elimination from the quarter final stages, Ade Smith started the campaign in great style with a 51-6 romp in the opener.
Keith Robertson, who has moved over from the now defunct No 2 team, quickly equalised before new home team signing Rob Mulliss made it 2-1 with a debut success.
Simon Zoppi, defeated by Mulliss in the above-mentioned frame, was drawn out to play again with the visitors a man down and he quickly made amends, defying the penalty handicap to equalise at 2-2.
Mulliss and Smith again nudged their side ahead at 3-2 in the first of the scotch doubles legs but the game was going all the way after Zoppi and Ricki Slack took a black ball decider for 3-3.
And it could have gone either way in the last before Mulliss (partnered by Cliff Gould) stepped in to take a mid range black and earn the home side the balance of the points.

The other game in the group turned out slightly less fraught as Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 2 scored a decisive 7-0 win over Edgefold. Steve Donner (48 break) was his usual imperious self whilst Ben Monk and Kyle Ryde were also in the scoring zone.

Tansley Potters opened up in Group C with a 5-2 win on their debut as a snooker team (more often they have been involved in the billiards side of the league). Captain Joe Neville won all three frames he contested after Alfreton No 1 had taken the first two frames, Andrew Haggarty notching the latter of those.

And in Group B Matlock Golf Club defeated Alfreton No 3 4-3 with Chris Parker getting them off to a winning start before the visitors reduced the arrears to the minimum margin after Ady Lowe and Graem Wood took the final frame.

Bob McCartin Six Red Cup, Group A: Crich Comrades 4, Bolehill Institute 3; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 2 7, Edgefold Matlock 0. Group B: Matlock Golf Club 4, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 3 3. Group C: Tansley Potters 5, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1 2.
Breaks: S Donner 48; B Monk 27; K Ryde 25,20,20; K Rowland 23..