EDGEFOLD No1 AND CRICH COMRADES IN BIG SHOWDOWN

MARTIN BARWICK

EDGEFOLD No1 and CRICH COMRADES each progressed to their Jaeger Trophy play-off final showdown in emphatic style as they delivered 4-0 wins to confirm their status as the top two ranking teams in the league table.
The Tramwaymen were first in action as they hosted Tansley Potters and although the teams finished second and third in the table, it was all one way traffic on the night.
Nick Berry took the opener 83-39 as he continued in fine form after his "B" Individual Handicap win the previous week and Paul Trevett made it 2-0 soon afterwards with a hard fought 71-51 victory.
And Ade Smith made sure of the win as he scored a convincing 78-32 verdict before Jack Long added the icing on the cake in a rare appearance in an academic fourth frame.

Not to be outdone a couple of days later, Edgefold No1 showed they are still firing on all cylinders after taking the T & M Motors Snooker League title though they were made to work by fourth placed Clay Cross Brotherhood despite the ultimate clean sweep of frames.
Martin Barwick edged the opener on the black 62-55 before a more comfortable win from Steve Burton gave the hosts some breathing space.
Another black ball verdict from Scott Brooks secured the Matlock side's place in the final and Duncan Harwood added the dead rubber in the fourth frame.

The top pair now face off at Bolehill Institute for the grand prize with this being a sixth Edgefold team appearance in the final since the competition started in 2012, while Crich will be appearing for the second time, though it will be a debut for the current team.

Three of the early competitions featured the top eight teams (with a sixth and seventh placed team emerging victorious) before the current format of the top four became the norm in 2016.
Alfreton Palmer Morewood are the winning-most team with four successes followed by two wins each from Edgefold and Belper Strutt Club.

The league champions have now reached the final for the last eight years (9 out of 12 overall and 8 out of 9 in the four team format) and currently have five wins.
The highest placed team in the final has won 9 out of 11 attempts but it will be all to play for on the night as another piece of Darley Dale and District Snooker League history is made, good luck to all!

Jaeger Trophy (Top four play-offs) semi finals: Crich Comrades 4, Tansley Potters 0; Edgefold Matlock No1 4, Clay Cross Brotherhood 0.