DUNCAN IS SINGLES CHAMP AS EDGEFOLD No1 TREBLE UP

DUNCAN WARING ...individual champ

THE CONCLUDING contests of the 2024/25 T & M Motors Snooker League season took place this week with the all-Clay Cross final between handicap runner-up Lee Hage and team-mate and doubles partner Duncan Waring the main course for the OMYA Cup. Also played to a finish was the Jimmy Harper Plate final, an all-Edgefold encounter between the No1 and No2 teams.
Waring warmed up for the showdown in midweek with a 3-1 success over Alfreton's Jack Lowe, making a couple of forty breaks to boot and having earlier seen off thrice-in-row champ Ben Monk in the quarters, looked to be in good form at just the right time to try and avenge an earlier defeat to Hage in the handicap knockout.
A 21 break early doors put Waring in control of the opener in this Individual Scratch event which he duly secured with his opponent requiring two snookers on the last red.
Hage levelled as he took a more scrappy second frame on the black with a 67-55 scoreline before Waring edged ahead again as he took the next on the pink 50-41 in a tight battle.
Waring was in again early with a run of 25 before missing the pink into middle pocket when set for more but Hage came back strongly and after fluking the blue, was only one ball away from levelling again.
However his attempted cut on the pink left a long pot which Waring confidently slammed home to leave himself perfectly on the black for a 55-53 win and a 3-1 lead overall.
A low scoring safety-orientated encounter materialised in the next in which eventually Hage doubled brown with the blue over the pocket to put him 40-20 to the good and it was back to 3-2.
Some of the best snooker was played in what was to be the final frame of the contest, Waring notching a run of 28 first up and Hage hitting back with 26 but eventually it was the veteran cueman and one-time team-mate of Nigel Bond who turned the screw and pulled away for a 64-35 triumph and an excellent 4-2 victory.

EDGEFOLD No1, treble winners after Plate success
L-R: Tommy Smith, Duncan Harwood, Steve Burton, Richard Ferguson and Rob Muxlow.

Meanwhile Edgefold No1 saw off Edgefold No2 328-253  to make it a hat-trick of team trophies as they added the Jimmy Harper Plate to their League Championship and Jaeger Trophy play-off victories.
Tommy Smith edged the opener for the victors 63-54 before Richard Ferguson followed up with a convincing 87-35 success.
Duncan Harwood added to the lead, taking the next 63-48 and it was four straight frames for the favourites as Steve Burton then won 65-55.
This left the No2 pair of Scott Brooks and Trevor Wright needing a mammoth win in the final doubles to overturn the aggregate in this points-based competition and for a long time they held a healthy lead which at one stage reached 45 points which was more than half of the total required.
However a couple of chances went astray on the last few reds and Ferguson stepped in to steady the ship before Brooks and Wright ultimately had to be content with a black ball win after seeing their lead eroded on the colours.
OMYA Cup (Individual Scratch): Semi final: Jack Lowe (Alfreton PM 2) 1, Duncan Waring (Clay Cross Brotherhood) 3.
Final: Duncan Waring (Clay Cross Brotherhood) 4, Lee Hage (Clay Cross Brotherhood) 2: 66(21)-16; 55-67; 50-41; 55-53; 20-40; 64(28)-35(26).
Jimmy Harper Plate (Team Aggregate Consolation) final: Edgefold Matlock No1 328, Edgefold Matlock No2 253.
Breaks: Duncan Waring 40,40,28,25,21; Lee Hage 26.

ALFRETON No2 DEFEAT EDGEFOLD No1 IN SIX RED FINAL

ALFRETON PALMER MOREWOOD No2 Bob McCartin Six Red Cup winners
L-R: Andrew Beardsley, Alfie Richardson, Jack Lowe, Ben Monk and Carlos Zaragoza.

ALFRETON PALMER MOREWOOD No2 secured their second cup trophy of the season as they defeated league champions Edgefold No1 on Hall Street in the delayed final of the Bob McCartin Six Red Cup, usually played in February but held over due to fixture congestion.
A tight opener saw Tommy Smith with a slight advantage for the Matlock cuemen but attempting green into half a pocket, the ball rattled and up stepped Andrew Beardsley to clear the rest down to black for a 25-17 success.
Carlos Zaragoza held sway for much of the next up against Richard Ferguson, but the visiting player would not lie down and despite rattling the black, it ran safe and eventually a double into the middle pocket gave him a 38-36 verdict for 1-1.
Edgefold then edged 2-1 ahead with Jack Lowe going in off the last red and Steve Burton stepping in with a 14 break despite Lowe attaining the required snooker thereafter to no avail ultimately.
Rob Muxlow enjoyed a tidy handicap lead against star home player Ben Monk and started well with a red black and red before Monk gradually went through the gears, finishing with a 38 clearance to take the spoils 50-25 and level the match at 2-2.
Monk then teamed up firstly  with Lowe to defeat Burton and Duncan Harwood 46-27 on the pink and then with Zaragoza as they took on Burton and Ferguson.
A ding dong battle ensued with Zaragoza taking pink into middle to leave everything on the black and after some tense sparring, it was Alfreton who came up trumps when Monk fluked the deciding ball into the bottom pocket for a 34-24 triumph, making it 4-2 overall.

Elsewhere, Belper Royal British Legion were awarded the points with Edgefold No3 not able to travel for the final league game which means Steve Bullock secured the prize for most wins with 14 out of 17, a great effort from a real stalwart of the league over many years leaving Scott Brooks of Edgefold No2 the unlucky runner-up with a very impressive 13 out of 15.

A trio of the Darley Dale League's billiards fraternity travelled to Cueball Derby for this years UK Amateur Over 60s event.
Ironically Joe Neville drew Ricki Slack in a repeat of the recent league singles final and without any handicap, it was Neville who took revenge with a 171-151 victory after at one stage being seventy ahead before a late rally reduced the arrears.
Neville then took on esteemed champion of the previous year, Mark Hirst, who had notched a magnificent 172 break in the first round, and he added a superb 88 in this contest on the way to a 285-104 success despite losing his tip just over half way through the match (eventually losing out in the semi finals).
Jim McCann defeated Syd Ash 267-78 in his opening match, having received a bye first up but was then defeated in the quarter finals 170-142 by eventual runner-up Terry McAdam.
Slack meanwhile drew the short straw in the plate consolation, coming out against England seniors international Eddie Fielding in the first round, who went on to take the reserve prize and progressed with something to spare in this contest 174-93.

Bob McCartin Six Red Cup final: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 4, Edgefold Matlock No1 2: 25-17; 36-38; 39-63; 50(38)-25; 46-27; 34-24.
T & M Motors Snooker League: Belper RBL 5, Edgefold Matlock No3 0.
Breaks: Ben Monk 38.

T & M Motors Snooker League        P        W       L       Pts 
Edgefold Matlock No 1                      18       16         2      61
Bolehill Institute                                 18       12         6      53
Alfreton P Morewood No 1                18       11         7      52

Alfreton P Morewood No 2                18       11         7      50

Clay Cross Brotherhood                    18         9         9      46

Belper RBL                                         18        9         9      45

Edgefold Matlock No 2                      18         7       11      42

Tansley Potters                                  18         6       12      41

Crich Comrades                                 18         8       10      37

Edgefold Matlock No 3                       18         0       18      23                  

Leading breaks: B Monk 84; S Burton 55.
Leading wins: S Bullock 14/17; S Brooks 13/15; A Haggarty 13/16.

EDGEFOLD AND MAYFIELD ARE AMONG THE SILVERWARE

EDGEFOLD MATLOCK No1 Jaeger Trophy play off winners 2024/25
L-R: Richard Ferguson, Steve Burton, Tommy Smith, Duncan Harwood and Rob Muxlow.

EDGEFOLD No1 completed the T & M Motors League Championship / Jaeger Trophy play off double as they defeated third placed Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 3-0 in the grand final on Hall Street with a couple more chances of silverware still to come.
The visitors' Tommy Smith took on namesake Des in the opener and after a cagey opening, the natural potting ability of the youngster came to the fore as he took pink and black with the last two reds along with the early colours to force a concession after a roll up shot for the home player had landed just short at a crucial stage.
The tightest game of the night was up next with John Smith taking on Richard Ferguson and it proved nip and tuck with chances falling either way before the Edgefold player eventually made a great pot on black into the corner pocket for 2-0. 
And Steve Burton was in no mood to let this lead slip as he mostly held sway in the next, eventually taking blue into the middle pocket to secure victory for the champs.
It is a third win for the Edgefold team in its various forms in the event as well as having been runner-up four times including last season.

ROB MUXLOW (left) and RICHARD FERGUSON, pairs champs

There had already been success for the Edgefold pairing of Ferguson and Rob Muxlow earlier in the week as they came through a hard-fought four-and-a-half hour marathon battle to see off Clay Cross Brotherhood's Graham Jones and Ian McKay 4-3 on Broadleys.
The home pairing took the first before the Matlock men hit back to go 2-1 up in largely a tactical battle of wits before the tables turned once again to see the Brotherhood partnership 3-2 to the good with two to play.
In keeping with the delicate balance of the contest, it became 3-3 with eventually Jones and McKay needing a snooker on the blue in the decider.
This McKay achieved with a positive result, and Jones took blue thereafter to take it down to pink and black but up stepped Ferguson to seal the deal on the penultimate ball after a monumental effort from both parties.
At least a third success in the event for Ferguson, having twice partnered Andrew Morton to victory in the mid nineties, and  an inaugural triumph for Muxlow in the competition.

As expected, Mayfield Institute wrapped up the Elliott Carpets Billiards League with next season's sponsorship now being taken on by Classic Gas Bodyshop of Two Dales.
Tansley Potters tried their best to upset the applecart but even after a 13-10 victory inspired by breaks of 41 and 31 from Steve Hawkins, Keith Gregory's narrow success ensured that the Ashbourne cuemen had four points in hand when the final table was published.

Jaeger Trophy Play-off final: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 0, Edgefold Matlock No1 3.
Denis Morton Pairs Handicap Trophy final: Graham Jones / Ian McKay 3, Richard Ferguson / Rob Muxlow 4.
Elliott Carpets Billiards League: Tansley Potters 13, Mayfield Institute 10.
Breaks: S Hawkins 41,31 (billiards).

T & M Motors Snooker League        P        W       L       Pts 
Edgefold Matlock No 1                      18       16         2      61
Bolehill Institute                                 18       12         6      53
Alfreton P Morewood No 1                18       11         7      52

Alfreton P Morewood No 2                18       11         7      50

Clay Cross Brotherhood                    18         9         9      46

Edgefold Matlock No 2                      18         7       11      42

Tansley Potters                                  18         6       12      41

Belper RBL                                         17        8         9      40

Crich Comrades                                 18         8       10      37

Edgefold Matlock No 3                       17         0       17      23                  

Leading breaks: B Monk 84; S Burton 55.
Leading wins:  S Brooks 13/15; S Bullock & A Haggarty 13/16.

Elliott Carpets Billiards League       P     W      D       L     Pts
Mayfield Institute                               12       8       1       3    157
Bolehill Institute                                 12       4       3       5    153
Tansley Potters                                  12       4       1       7    129
Whitworth Institute                             12       5       1       6    121
Leading breaks: J McCann 62; K Gregory 46.
Leading wins: J McCann 9/12; M Jennings, K Gregory & R Slack 7/12.

EDGEFOLD No1 TO MEET ALFRETON No1 IN BIG DECIDER

COLE SMITH

CHAMPIONS EDGEFOLD No1 and third placed Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1`will meet in the Jaeger Trophy play off final at the Amber Valley venue after they won the toss to host the prestigious contest following each of the respective teams' victories last week.
Colin Marchington set off like a scalded cat for Bolehill as he took on Alfreton No1's Des Smith in the opener and was soon sitting pretty, 34 points in front half way through the frame.
However, the cue ball was beginning to disappear inadvertently with increasing regularity, and a missed cut on blue into the middle let Smith in with a match winning chance.
He took this down to black and with both players spurning a couple of opportunities, it was once again  a foul that decided the issue as the cue ball disappeared into the opposite black pocket after trying a cut down the cushion to hand Smith the win with a total of 24 points conceded overall.
Ricki Slack took the next 63-23 but it was again nip and tuck in frame three and when an intended safety on the blue disappeared into the pocket, John Smith produced a fine pot in the centre pocket to put his team 2-1 up.
Cole Smith followed up with a crashing double to decide the match as he saw off Simon Zoppi on the pink to see this particular Alfreton team into their inaugural play off final.
This has not been the best of competitions for Bolehill over the years, who have now qualified for the play offs 11 times and only made the final once, when they were at least successful on the final black admittedly.
Edgefold No1 saw off Alfreton No2 3-0 in the other match with Richard Ferguson and Duncan Harwood enjoying comfortable successes before Tommy Smith's black ball win settled the issue.

In the penultimate T & M Motors Snooker League match, Crich Comrades defeated Edgefold No3 3-2. Martyn Dranfield and Reece Johnstone shared the opening exchanges before Nick Berry nudged the Tramwaymen ahead.
Sam Kniveton, playing his second frame as the reserve, levelled up but Berry and Paul Trevett steered the hosts to a narrow success in the concluding doubles leg.
Jaeger Trophy play off semi finals: Edgefold Matlock No1 3, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 0; Bolehill Institute 1, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 3.
T & M Motors Snooker League: Crich Comrades 3, Edgefold Matlock No3 2.
Breaks: C Zaragoza 27; R Ferguson 22.

ALFRETON PALMER MOREWOOD RETAIN CAPTAINS CUP

ALFRETON PALMER MOREWOOD No2 Captains Cup winners 2024/25
L-R: Andrew Beardsley, Alfie Richardson, Jack Lowe, Ben Monk and Carlos Zaragoza.
Also played in previous round: Alex Fisher.

ALFRETON PALMER MOREWOOD No2 lifted the Captains Cup (Team Aggregate competition) with a 366-263 win over the youngsters of Edgefold Matlock  No3 who were contesting their first team final after a great run which took them almost all the way.
For Jack Lowe and Carlos Zaragoza, it was a second successive victory in the event though this time they were teaming up with new personnel in Ben Monk and Andrew Beardsley.
Beardsley was up first in the opener and he eventually ground out an 82-34 victory over Kieran Worsley with some solid safety play and reliable potting before Zaragoza increased the lead with an impressive 71-33 defeat of Sam Kniveton.
With Jack Lowe's 27 break pulling him clear for a 79-35 verdict over Fin Harvey, the writing looked on the wall for the debutant finalists but their ace in the pack Reece Johnstone pulled them back into the match with an outstanding 99-37 triumph over Alfreton's top marksman Ben Monk.
This gave the Matlock lads an outside chance going into the final doubles leg but Monk and Zaragoza gradually asserted their superiority to take a 97-62 win and make sure the silverware was going back to whence it came.

Elsewhere the semi finals of the Jimmy Harper Plate were taking place which is the consolation event for those knocked out at an early stage of the above event.
As it happens, league champions Edgefold No1 were one of those but they were certainly on song here as they fought off some stiff opposition from Clay Cross Brotherhood to win 325-243.
Duncan Waring and Ian McKay notched breaks of 32 and 30 respectively yet it still was not enough for individual victories as Tommy Smith and Duncan Harwood fought tenaciously to see the hosts 23 points ahead even after that barrage of scoring.
Steve Burton's 80-25 victory in the next gave them more breathing space and after Richard Ferguson had secured the fourth frame 58-31 there was little hope left for the visitors, who did at least take the doubles leg 74-51 courtesty of Graham Jones and McKay.

It will be an all Edgefold final as the No2 team then defeated Belper Royal British Legion 256-190 with the visitors conceding on the last red of the doubles leg.
Scott Brooks and Steve Bullock, both riding high in the most winning players table, had to settle for a tie here with their scores locked at 59 all and the usual re-spotted black rule not applying in this overall points aggregate contest.
Paul Jarrett edged the next but an 80-14 win for Trevor Wright put the Matlock cuemen on the home straight and despite Wayne Shooter taking the fourth frame, Brooks and Wright sealed the deal by teaming up for a pairs success at the end.

Captains Cup (Team Aggregate) final: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 366, Edgefold Matlock No3 263 (at Crich Comrades).
Jimmy Harper Plate (Team Aggregate Consolation) semi finals: Edgefold Matlock No1 325, Clay Cross Brotherhood 243; Edgefold Matlock No2 256, Belper Royal British Legion 190.
Breaks: D Waring 32; I McKay 30; J Lowe 27; J Dakin 25; S Brooks 24; T Wright 22; R Ferguson 22; R Johnstone 20.

GOOD WEEK FOR BOLEHILL IN BILLIARDS AND SNOOKER

RICKI SLACK ...three ball victor

RICKI SLACK of Bolehill Institute secured his inaugural individual billiards league trophy success as he defeated Tansley's Joe Neville 133-86 in the timed Williams Cup handicap final at Whitworth Institute.
Receiving 30pts on the handicap against his seasoned opponent, the Wirksworth based player seemed to be holding sway until a superb half century break of exactly 50 put Neville four points ahead with the clock showing just ten minutes to play.
But some favourable leaves thereafter around the red spot saw Slack do most of the scoring for the remainder of the match as he eventually ran out the winner with a bit to spare.
With the scoring being pretty consistent, it was perhaps surprising the final totals were a little lower than each would normally record and raised some question of whether the timing mechanism had been entirely accurate but it was not really possible to gauge this in retrospect even if the match seemed to race by.

Elsewhere the final round of T & M Snooker League matches (barring a couple that don't affect the top placings) were played and the make up of the Jaeger Trophy top four plays offs became known.

Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 played a re-scheduled game prior to the main fixture list and were beaten 3-2 at home by Tansley Potters, who thus took revenge for their own defeat to the same opposition a week earlier.
Joe Hawkins and Richard Roper won each of their singles and doubles legs while Des Smith and Andrew Haggarty were on target for the hosts.

Later in the week the Amber Valley side bounced back to record a 4-1 home defeat of Edgefold No2 
Des Smith and Haggarty were again in winning form while John Smith took a one point success and only Scott Brooks could reply which did put him in with a chance of the award for most individual wins though long-time leader Steve Bullock of Belper Legion still has a game to play.

Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 became the second team to defeat champions Edgefold No1 in as many weeks after their 16-game winning league run was ended as they triumphed 3-2.
Ben Monk and Jack Lowe put the visitors 2-0 up and although Duncan Harwood and Richard Ferguson (40 break) pulled them level, Lowe then teamed up with youngster Alfie Richardson to bring home the bacon.

All this left Bolehill Institute knowing a win would see them into the runners up spot at Tansley and they reeled off the opening three frames to put the issue beyond any doubt.
Colin Marchington edged the opener on the black, Ricki Slack (35 break) made it two and Simon Zoppi scored a 72-41 success for the third.
Thereafter Steve Hawkins pulled one back and then took the doubles on the black partnered by Joe Neville.

The play off match-ups are thus finalised - Edgefold No1 will entertain Alfreton No2 once again while Alfreton No1 will travel to Bolehill Institute.

The other game saw Clay Cross Brotherhood run riot with a 5-0 win over Crich Comrades. Duncan Waring continued his good recent form with a run of 33 whilst Tony Blant notched a break of 23 in the doubles leg.

T & M Motors Snooker League week 18: Alfreton P Morewood No1 2, Tansley Potters 3; Alfreton P Morewood No1 4, Edgefold Matlock No2 1; Edgefold Matlock No1 2, Alfreton P Morewood No1 3; Tansley Potters 2, Bolehill Institute 3; Clay Cross Brotherhood 5, Crich Comrades 0.
Breaks: R Ferguson 40; R Slack 35; D Waring 33; T Blant 23; C Marchington 21.

Williams Cup (billiards individual handicap) final: R Slack (Bolehill) 133, J Neville (Tansley) 86 (50 break) (at Whitworth Institute).

T & M Motors Snooker League        P        W       L       Pts 
Edgefold Matlock No 1                      18       16         2      61
Bolehill Institute                                 18       12         6      53
Alfreton P Morewood No 1                18       11         7      52

Alfreton P Morewood No 2                18       11         7      50

Clay Cross Brotherhood                    18         9         9      46

Edgefold Matlock No 2                      18         7       11      42

Tansley Potters                                  18         6       12      41

Belper RBL                                         17        8         9      40

Crich Comrades                                 17         7       10      34

Edgefold Matlock No 3                       16         0       16      21                  

Leading breaks: B Monk 84; S Burton 55.
Leading wins:  S Brooks 13/15;  S Bullock & A Haggarty 13/16.

JOSH DEFEATS REIGNING CHAMPION LEE IN A THRILLER

JOSH DAKIN ... magnificent comeback win

HAVING finished runner-up just a week ago in the Intermediate Handicap event, Edgefold's Josh Dakin went one better in the Open Individual Handicap final with a memorable comeback win in his first season, defeating reigning champion Lee Hage of Clay Cross Brotherhood 4-3 after a thrilling battle at the Matlock venue.
With both players finding their feet in the opener, Hage was first into his stride and finished off nicely with a colours clearance to take the frame 79-24.
It was soon 2-0 following an in-off on the green and the Clay Cross player stepping up to take green, brown and blue out of baulk for an 87-53 scoreline.
The next was nip and tuck until Hage bobbled a green around the middle pocket and Dakin produced an excellent 19 break from last red down to blue to make the frame safe at 60-36.
Buoyed by this, there was no stopping the Edgefold cueman in the fourth and he levelled at 2-2 with a pair of twenty breaks contributing to a 77-3 romp.
Hage was not to be phased however as he hit back with a run of 31 in frame five though it still went down to pink and blank with the Matlock man going close with a long pink before Hage took a straight pot from mid-range for 3-2.
Dakin took blue and pink in the next after the Clay Cross cueman had overcut match ball and eventually it was 3-3 with the Edgefold player clipping in a long range black-ball decider into the bottom pocket in fine style.
And with the home player holding sway in the decider with a thirty point lead and two reds left, the decisive moment came when Hage just caught the pink which was semi-blocking the object ball from the pocket and Dakin thereafter made sure with a teen break to seal the deal and an eventual 68-36 win.

The top pair met in the T & M Motors Snooker League at Bolehill Institute where Edgefold No1 secured the title outright with their 16th straight win, coming from 2-0 down to edge it 3-2.
Rob Muxlow was the catalyst, forcing a re-spot in the third frame by taking pink and black and then sinking it at the first time of asking after Colin Marchington and Ricki Slack (31 break) put the hosts on the front foot.
Tommy Smith then levelled and the two victors combined to take a hard fought pairs leg with Muxlow again getting the decisive pink at the end.

The following night however, Edgefold No1's unbeaten league run did come to an end with a 3-2 victory for Clay Cross Brotherhood in a re-arranged encounter.
Ian McKay, Tony Blant and Duncan Waring reeled off three straight frames to do what no one else had found possible all season (barring Tansley in the cups).
Steve Burton (36 break) pulled one back before teaming up for a black ball success with Duncan Harwood to narrow the gap.

Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 had defeated Clay Cross 3-2 the previous night with Ben Monk's 42 break making sure he got some kind of revenge for his recent OMYA Cup loss to opponent Duncan Waring where both players were in break-building form with a couple of forties and a thirty.

They soon made it a quick double with another minimum margin victory over Crich Comrades in another re-scheduled fixture.
Nick Berry and Paul Trevett had the visitors 2-0 in front but wins for Carlos Zaragoza and Jack Lowe levelled it up and they then paired up to take the doubles leg.

Edgefold No2 saw off Belper RBL 4-1 as Trevor Wright took the opener on the black, Josh Dakin top scored and the pair teamed up to take the doubles at the end. Wayne Shooter was on target for the visitors.

JIM McCANN and ROB LOWE, double cup successes

In the billiards section, the Kenworthy Cup pairs trophy went to the Whitworth Institute pair of Jim McCann and Rob Lowe, adding the scotch doubles event to their recent Captains Cup team success as they again saw off runners-up Mayfield Institute in the final.

T & M Motors Snooker League week 17: Bolehill Institute 2, Edgefold Matlock No1 3; Clay Cross Brotherhood 3, Edgefold Matlock No1 2; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 3, Clay Cross Brotherhood 2; Alfreton Palmer Morewood 3, Crich Comrades 2; Edgefold Matlock No2 4, Belper RBL 1.
Open Individual Handicap final (at Edgefold, Matlock): Josh Dakin (Edgefold No2) 4, Lee Hage (Clay Cross Brotherhood) 3: 24-79(27); 53-87; 60-36; 77(20,20)-3; 47-58(31); 67-60; 68-36.
Breaks (inc. comps): B Monk 43,42; D Waring 42,37; L Hage 31,27; S Burton 36; R Slack 31; G Jones 25; J Dakin 20,20.

T & M Motors Snooker League        P        W       L       Pts 
Edgefold Matlock No 1                      17       16         1      59
Bolehill Institute                                 17       11         6      50
Alfreton P Morewood No 2                17       10         7      47

Alfreton P Morewood No 1                16       10         6      46

Clay Cross Brotherhood                    17         8         9      41

Edgefold Matlock No 2                      17         7       10      41

Belper RBL                                        17         8         9      40

Tansley Potters                                  16         5       11      36

Crich Comrades                                 16         7         9      34

Edgefold Matlock No 3                       16         0       16      21                  

Leading breaks: B Monk 84; S Burton 55.
Leading wins: S Bullock 13/16; S Brooks 12/14;  I Birks 12/16.

Kenworthy Cup (billiards scotch doubles) final: Whitworth Institute beat Mayfield Institute.

REECE LIFTS "B" HANDICAP TROPHY IN EMPHATIC STYLE

JOSH DAKIN and winner REECE JOHNSTONE (right) before the "B" handicap final

EDGEFOLD CLUB's REECE JOHNSTONE, in his first season, added the "B" (Intermediate) Individual Handicap trophy to his earlier speed snooker event success at Christmas as he defeated club-mate Josh Dakin 3-0 in the final at his home venue.
Dakin was out of the blocks smartly in the first with a run of 24 but Johnstone soon countered with 21 and an excellent cut on the blue with the rest followed by pink saw him take the first frame 59-47.
From thereon he went into overdrive with fine potting and matchplay earning him 64-12 and 76-25 scorelines to deprive Dakin of meaningful table time and control the remainder of the match - Dakin though will have the chance to go one better in the upcoming Open Individual Handicap final.
There he will meet another dual finalist in Lee Hage from Clay Cross Brotherhood, who having already qualified for the said event, also reached the OMYA Cup individual scratch final with a 3-1 win over Bolehill's Ricki Slack.
Slack had looked set to go 2-0 up following a deft cut on frame ball pink but the cue ball went across the table off two cushions and in-off into the same pocket and Hage then equalised with a fine pot.
Buoyed by this, he notched a run of 26 (albeit from a fluke) in the next and eventually took the decisive frame with a superb long pot on the black after a hard fought contest.

The tribulations continued for Slack the following night, potting the final black in the doubles leg for Bolehill at Edgefold No2 only to see the cue ball disappear once again but this time the match was already safe with a 3-2 win in the visitors' favour as himself, Colin Marchington, and Ian Birks had scored earlier victories in the T & M Motors Snooker League contest.
Trevor Wright replied for the hosts with a black ball riposte to go with the aforementioned pairs success (partnering Scott Brooks).

Third placed Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 took a 3-2 triumph from Edgefold No3.
Des Smith ran up 95 points in the opener with breaks of 25 and 21. Brother John added the next before reserve Tommy Smith and Reece Johnstone levlled things up at 2-2.
Ultimately though it was Des and Cole Smith who sealed the deal for the visitors 62-36 in the concluding pairs leg.

Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 stay fourth after also taking a 3-2 win off Tansley Potters.
Andrew Beardsley, Carlos Zaragoza and Ben Monk were all in winning form for the hosts while Joe Hawkins took each of his singles and doubles legs, latterly partnering Joe Neville.

Belper Royal British Legion defeated Crich Comrades 4-1 in the other match with Steve Bullock taking his 13th win in 15 outings and although Nick Berry equalised, Paul Jarrett and Wayne Shooter made the game safe thereafter.

In the Elliott Carpets Billiards League, Whitworth Institute defeated Tansley Potters 12-7 with Jim McCann notching runs of 49 and 36 and Rob Lowe 33 and there was also victory for the Whitworth pairing in the Captains Cup Team Aggregate final as they overcame Mayfield.
Mark Jennings struck first with a thirty point success for the Ashbourne cuemen but McCann was again in imperious form and once he got into his stride, it became evident that the trophy was returning to Darley Dale.

T & M Motors Snooker League week 16: Edgefold Matlock No2 2, Bolehill Institute 3; Edgefold Matlock No3 2, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 3; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 3, Tansley Potters 2; Belper RBL 4, Crich Comrades 1.
"B" (Intermediate) Individual Handicap final: Reece Johnstone (Edgefold No3) 3, Josh Dakin (Edgefold No2) 0: 59(21)-47(24); 64-12; 76(22)-25.
OMYA Cup (Individual Scratch) semi final: Ricki Slack (Bolehill) 1, Lee Hage (Clay Cross) 3.
Breaks (inc. comps): L Hage 26,22; D Smith 25,21; J Dakin 24; A Richardson 24;  R Slack 23; A Breadsley 22; R Johnstone 22,21.

T & M Motors Snooker League        P        W       L       Pts 
Edgefold Matlock No 1                      15       15         0      54
Bolehill Institute                                 16       11         5      48
Alfreton P Morewood No 1                15         9         6      42
Alfreton P Morewood No 2                15         8         7      41

Belper Royal British Legion               16         8         8      39

Edgefold Matlock No 2                      16         6       10      37

Clay Cross Brotherhood                    15         7         8      36

Tansley Potters                                  15         5       10      35

Crich Comrades                                 15         7         8      32

Edgefold Matlock No 3                       16         0       16      21                  

Leading breaks: B Monk 84; S Burton 55.
Leading wins: S Bullock 13/15;  I Birks 12/15; S Brooks 11/13.

Elliott Carpets Billiards League: Whitworth Institute 12, Tansley Potters 7.Captains Cup, Billiards (Team Aggregate) final: Whitworth Institute beat Mayfield Institute.
Breaks: J McCann 49,36; R Lowe 33.

Elliott Carpets Billiards League       P     W      D       L     Pts
Bolehill Institute                                 12       4       3       5    153
Mayfield Institute                               11        8       1       2    147
Whitworth Institute                             12       5       1       6    121
Tansley Potters                                  11       3       1       7     116
Leading breaks: J McCann 48; K Gregory 46.
Leading wins: J McCann 9/12; M Jennings 7/11; R Slack 7/12.

EDGEFOLD No3 REACH CUP FINAL WITH WIN AT TANSLEY

SAM KNIVETON

EDGEFOLD No3 defied the formbook again to reach the final of the Captains Cup Team Aggregate competition as they dished up a piece de resistance to defeat Tansley Potters 282-206 to take their place in the final where they will meet Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2.
Sam Kniveton took the opener 49-48 and Fin Harvey the next 46-30 as the outsiders were off to a flying start but there was still plenty of snooker to be played and veteran Tansley captain Joe Neville hit back to take the third frame 63-44.
Reece Johnstone, in a rich vein of form currently, struck a huge blow however to take the fourth frame 76-34 and then teamed up with Kniveton to seal the deal with a 67-31 success in the doubles.

Alfreton No2 defeated Bolehill Institute 314-279 in a game of one sided contests either way. Colin Marchington took the opener by 37 but Ben Monk, Carlos Zaragoza and Andrew Beardsley all scored convincing victories to leave their side 68 points ahead going into the final doubles and Ricki Slack and Ian Birks could ultimately only claw back 33 of the deficit before stumps were drawn.
Strange fact was that all Bolehill players scored a 20+ break on the night but the Alfreton players scored more consistently either side of those efforts.

There were also a couple of re-arranged games in the T & M Motors Snooker League where Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 scored what could be a decisive 4-1 win at Clay Cross Brotherhood in the battle for the end of season play offs.
Tony Blant secured the opener on the black but after that it was one way traffic for the visitors with Andrew Haggarty top scoring and teaming up with Cole Smith for an impressive doubles triumph also.

Edgefold No2 just got the better of Edgefold No3 3-2 a couple of days after their cup heroics.
Sam Kniveton again edged a narrow encounter first up 45-43 but the father-and-son partnership of Martin Barwick and Scott Brooks were in magnificent form for the victors on the night with each rattling up big tallies in their singles events before teaming up to score 110 points in the concluding doubles leg  - Brooks notching an excellent break of 49. Reece Johnstone had levelled on the black immediately prior for 2-2.

In the Open Individual Handicap semi finals, Josh Dakin defeated Justin Weller 3-2 on the pink in the final frame to reach his second final in just his first season while Lee Hage took the all Clay Cross encounter with team-mate Duncan Waring 3-0.

Tansley Potters edged out Bolehill Institute 13-12 in the Elliott Carpets Billiards League encounter to leave Mayfield needing seven points from their remaining game (at Tansley) to take the title before new sponsors Classic Gas Bodyshop come onboard in the close season.
Ricki Slack pipped Joe Neville by one point with seconds remaining on the clock, running out with 21 to edge ahead despite acknowledging knowing nothing about either the state of the scores or the time left but Steve Hawkins made sure of a home victory with a 194-151 riposte.

In the Williams Cup individual handicap, Slack defeated last years victor Keith Gregory 203-153 with the holder notching a run of 41 and Slack 34 before a late run of scoring saw the Bolehill player pull clear.

Captains Cup (Team Aggregate) semi finals: Tansley Potters 206, Edgefold Matlock No2 282; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 314, Bolehill Institute 279.
T & M Motors Snooker League: Clay Cross Brotherhood 1, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 4; Edgefold Matlock No3 2, Edgefold Matlock No2 3.
Open Individual Handicap semi finals: Josh Dakin (Edgefold No2) 3, Justin Weller (Belper Strutt) 2; Lee Hage (Clay Cross) 3, Duncan Waring (Clay Cross) 0.
Breaks (inc. comps): S Brooks 49; S Zoppi 28; I Birks 26; C Marchington 22; B Monk 21; R Slack 20.

Elliott Carpets Billiards League: Tansley Potters 13, Bolehill Institute 12. Breaks (inc. comps): K Gregory 41, R Slack 34.

LEADING PAIR GO NAP AND TANSLEY ALSO TURN ON STYLE

STEVE HAWKINS sealed the deal

JUST THREE matches in this week's T & M Motors Snooker League and there were a hat-trick of convincing home victories with the top pair going nap handed and Tansley Potters also scoring a handy win.
The latter team played hosts to Belper Royal British Legion but it was the visitors who edged ahead early doors thanks to Paul Jarrett's narrow success.
Joe Hawkins quickly equalised however with a 61-35 success and Richard Roper scored his first win on his comeback to the League with a 58-48 scoreline having previously been involved with the Bulls Head Youlgrave team of the past.
Steve Hawkins engineered another narrow success in the fourth frame to put the contest beyond doubt before Neville and Roper teamed up to add the extra point in the doubles leg.

Leaders Edgefold No1 took maximum points off Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 to maintain their nine-point lead at the top of the table.
Rob Muxlow (26 break) took the opener on the black and there were narrow victories in abundance as Tommy Smith, Richard Ferguson (23 break) and Duncan Harwood all got home in tight finishes before Harwood and Steve Burton took the doubles with a little more to spare.

Bolehill Institute consolidated second position with a 5-0 defeat of play off hopefuls Clay Cross Brotherhood.
Colin Marchington led by 31 with just the colours remaining but eventually got home on the black to stave off Graham Jones' fightback before Ricki Slack (24 break from a fluke!) added the second 71-43.
Simon Zoppi (29 break) was in imperious potting form as he ran up an 81-1 demolition before the night was rounded off by black ball victories for Ian Birks in singles (thanks to an inventive double from a tight angle) and pairs (teaming up with Slack in the latter contest).

There was a 3-2 triumph in the Intermediate Individual Handicap semi final for Josh Dakin who edged out Joe Neville (Tansley) on the pink in the decider and now goes on to meet Reece Johnstone in an all-Edgefold final.

Success was just around the corner for Neville however in the Williams Cup (billiards handicap) semi final as he defeated Bolehill's Andrew Brough to reach the final showdown.

In the Elliott Carpets Billiards League, Jim McCann notched the league's highest break yet of 62 as he put in the starring role despite Whitworth's 11-10 defeat at Mayfield.

T & M Motors Snooker League: Tansley Potters 4, Belper Royal British Legion 1; Edgefold Matlock No1 5, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 0; Bolehill Institute 5, Clay Cross Brotherhood 0.
"B" (Intermediate) Individual Handicap semi final: Josh Dakin (Edgefold 2) 3, Joe Neville (Tansley Potters) 2.
Breaks (inc. comps): S Zoppi 29; R Muxlow 26; R Slack 24; R Ferguson 23.

Elliott Carpets Billiards League: Mayfield Institute 11, Whitworth Institute 10.
Breaks: J McCann 62,30.

T & M Motors Snooker League        P        W       L       Pts 
Edgefold Matlock No 1                      15       15         0      54
Bolehill Institute                                 15       10         5      45
Alfreton P Morewood No 2                14         7         7      38
Alfreton P Morewood No 1                13         7         6      35

Clay Cross Brotherhood                    14         7         7      35

Belper Royal British Legion               15         7         8      35

Tansley Potters                                  14         5         9      33

Edgefold Matlock No 2                       14         5         9      32

Crich Comrades                                 14         7         7      31

Edgefold Matlock No 3                       14         0       14      17                  

Leading breaks: B Monk 84; S Burton 55.
Leading wins: S Bullock 12/14;  I Birks 11/14; S Brooks 10/11.

Elliott Carpets Billiards League       P     W      D       L     Pts
Bolehill Institute                                 11       4       3       4    141
Mayfield Institute                               11       8       1       2    147

Whitworth Institute                             11       4       1       6    109

Tansley Potters                                    9       2       1       6      96

Leading breaks: J McCann 62; K Gregory 46.

Leading wins: J McCann 8/11; M Jennings 7/11.

LEADERS TASTE SUCCESS IN EDGEFOLD SHOWDOWN

ROB MUXLOW ... deciding doubles victor

WEEK FOURTEEN of the T & M Motors Snooker League brought together Edgefold No1 and Edgefold No2 in a battle for bragging rights which eventually went to the league leaders but only after a titanic battle which saw them take the deciding doubles leg for a 3-2 victory.
Richard Ferguson took the opener 62-26 before Trevor Wright quickly hit back with a 71-54 riposte to level things up early doors.
A 63-37 verdict for Duncan Harwood in the next put the prospective champs in pole position but Scott Brooks once again squared things up with a 62-32 scoreline.
However, Ferguson and Rob Muxlow kept cool heads to see their side home with a 59-37 verdict.

Second placed Bolehill Institute also took a 3-2 win from Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 with Colin Marchington taking the first on the pink before a fine potting display from young Cole Smith levelled things up.
Simon Zoppi eventually took an eventful third frame and Ricki Slack made the match safe before the in-form Cole teamed up with Phil Longden to reduce the arrears to the minimum margin.

Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 went under 3-2 at Belper Royal British Legion despite Ben Monk's thrilling 67-66 win in the opener, aided by a break of 34.
Justin Weller and Steve Bullock (on the black) nudged the home side in front and Mark Newby put them beyond reproach before Jack Lowe and Andrew Beardsley took the concluding doubles leg.

Crich Comrades scored one of their best wins of the season with a 4-1 defeat of Tansley Potters.
Jack Long edged a high scoring frame to start proceedings with a 79-77 success and although Steve Hawkins swiftly equalised, wins for Martyn Dranfield and Ade Smith ensured the beer was flowing for the Tramwaymen at the end of the evening.
Long and Smith put the icing on the cake in the doubles leg.

Clay Cross Brotherhood were also in high scoring form as they defeated Edgefold No3 4-1 with Paul Roe notching a century points haul in his first appearance of the season and Duncan Waring not far behind scoring 95 with the help of a 37 break.
Tony Blant added the next before Reece Johnstone got the visitors on the board though the home side ended a successful night by adding the pairs frame too.

In the competitions, Reece Johnstone became the first player to reach one of the end of season finals as he edged out John Smith 3-2 in the Intermediate Handicap semi, scoring an excellent 36 break in the decider.

Just one match in the Elliott Carpets Billiards League which resulted in a 13-13 draw between Mayfield and Bolehill Institutes, leaving the Ashbourne cuemen in pole position for the league title, five points behind with a game in hand.

T & M Motors Snooker League week 14: Edgefold Matlock No1 3, Edgefold Matlock No2 2; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 2, Bolehill Institute 3; Belper Royal British Legion 3, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 2; Crich Comrades 4, Tansley Potters 1; Clay Cross Brotherhood 4, Edgefold Matlock No3 1.
"B" (Intermediate) Individual Handicap semi final: John Smith (Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1) 2, Reece Johnstone (Edgefold Matlock No3) 3.
Breaks (inc. comps): D Waring 37; R Johnstone 36; B Monk 34; R Ferguson 22; S Zoppi 22.

Elliott Carpets Billiards League: Mayfield Institute 13, Bolehill Institute 13.

T & M Motors Snooker League        P        W       L       Pts 
Edgefold Matlock No 1                      14       14         0      49
Bolehill Institute                                 14         9         5      40
Alfreton P Morewood No 2                14         7         7      38
Alfreton P Morewood No 1                12         7         5      35

Clay Cross Brotherhood                    13         7         6      35

Belper Royal British Legion               14         7         7      34

Edgefold Matlock No 2                      14         5         9      32

Crich Comrades                                 14         7         7      31

Tansley Potters                                  13         4         9      29

Edgefold Matlock No 3                       14         0       14      17                  

Leading breaks: B Monk 84; S Burton 55.
Leading wins: S Bullock 12/13; S Brooks 10/11; I Birks 10/13; S Burton 10/14.

Elliott Carpets Billiards League       P     W      D       L     Pts
Bolehill Institute                                 11       4       3       4    141
Mayfield Institute                               10       7       1       2    136

Whitworth Institute                             10       4       1       5      99

Tansley Potters                                    9       2       1       6      96

Leading breaks: J McCann 48; K Gregory 46.

Leading wins: J McCann 7/10; M Jennings & K Gregory 6/10.

COMRADES TAKE BLACK BALL THRILLER AT EDGEFOLD No2

ADE SMITH of Crich Comrades

CRICH COMRADES emerged victorious from the tightest battle of the week's T & M Motors Snooker League programme as they triumphed on the final black in their fixture at Edgefold No2.
Josh Dakin took the opener for the hosts with a 79-34 salvo before Jack Long equalised with a similarly impressive 74-32 success.
Ade Smith took the last three balls for a 59-47 win in frame three but Scott Brooks equalised with his own black ball success in the penultimate contest of the evening.
And after a stirring battle, the Tramwaymen edged it in the concluding doubles leg with Long and Smith coming through with a 55-51 verdict.

Bolehill Institute also battled through to take a tough encounter at Alfreton No2 by the minimum margin.
Steve Donner (25 break) took the opener on the pink and Ben Monk (50 break) soon made it two but a re-spotted black ball success for Simon Zoppi kept the visitors in the hunt and Ian Birks took his singles and doubles legs (partnering Ricki Slack) to complete the turnaround.

There was better fortune the following day for Alfreton, who caught up with their outstanding fixture at Clay Cross Brotherhood and secured a 4-1 victory.
Ben Monk (32 break) was again flowing nicely in the balls and with Carlos Zaragoza taking the second frame on the black, victory was then assured by Jack Lowe's 72-23 scoreline in frame three.
Tony Blant was on target for the hosts with a black ball win before Lowe and Aflie Richardson put the icing on the cake in the doubles.

Edgefold No1 maintained their unbeaten league run with a 4-1 defeat of Belper Royal British Legion on Strutt Street.
Richard Ferguson had runs of 26, 24 and 22 in his singles and doubles legs while Steve Bullock was on target for the hosts with his eleventh win in twelve outings.

The other fixture saw Tansley Potters edge out Edgefold No3 3-2.
Fin Harvey put the youngsters in front but wins for Joe and Steve Hawkins and Lee Hodgkinson made the game safe for the Potters before the hosts took the doubles leg to reduce the arrears.

Just one match in the Elliott Carpets Billiards League but it produced the performance of the season from in-form Keith Gregory of Mayfield Institute as he amassed the seasons highest total of 275 points, reeling off breaks of 46, 31, 31 and 30 en route to a 17-13 success for his team at Bolehill Institute.

T & M Motors Snooker League week 13: Edgefold Matlock No2 2, Crich Comrades 3; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 2, Bolehill Institute 3; Clay Cross Brotherhood 1, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 4; Belper Royal British Legion 1, Edgefold Matlock No1 4; Edgefold Matlock No2 2, Tansley Potters 3.
Breaks (inc. comps): B Monk 50,32; S Hawkins 29; R Ferguson 26,24,22; S Donner 25; R Slack 22; J Hawkins 20.

Elliott Carpets Billiards League: Bolehill Institute 13, Mayfield Institute 17.
Breaks:  K Gregory 46,31,31,30.

T & M Motors Snooker League        P        W       L       Pts 
Edgefold Matlock No 1                      13       13         0      46
Bolehill Institute                                 13         8         5      37
Alfreton P Morewood No 2                13         7         6      36
Alfreton P Morewood No 1                11         7         4      33

Clay Cross Brotherhood                    12         6         6      31

Belper Royal British Legion               13         6         7      31

Edgefold Matlock No 2                      13         5         8      30

Tansley Potters                                  12         4         8      28

Crich Comrades                                 13         6         7      27

Edgefold Matlock No 3                       13         0       13      16                  

Leading breaks: B Monk 84; S Burton 55.
Leading wins: S Bullock 11/12; I Birks & S Burton 10/13; S Brooks & A Haggarty 9/10.

Elliott Carpets Billiards League       P     W      D       L     Pts
Bolehill Institute                                 10       4       2       4    128
Mayfield Institute                                 9       7       0       2    123

Whitworth Institute                             10       4       1       5      99

Tansley Potters                                    9       2       1       6      96

Leading breaks: J McCann 48; K Gregory 46.

Leading wins: J McCann 7/10; M Jennings 6/9.