TWO POINTS SEPARATE THE TOP NINE TEAMS IN TABLE

IAN DOE ... Cucible-esque snooker

IT'S ULTRA-TIGHT at the top of the T & M Motors Snooker League to say the least as the top nine teams are now separated by just two points after  a round of results that threw things wide open for a host of contenders.
Last week's leaders Edgefold No2 came unstuck at Bolehill No1 who produced their best performance of the season to take the maximum five points though it didn't look likely in the early stages of the contest.
Ian Doe trailed the opener by fourteen with just pink and black remaining but a superbly judged snooker which would have brought a round of applause at the Crucible reaped the required dividends and he eventually took pink and black to take a 48-43 verdict.
Likewise Ricki Slack looked up against it in the next as he trailed by 12 with just the green onwards remaining but an excellent clearance of 25 turned the game on its head to make it 2-0.
Simon Zoppi controlled the next to make it three and a hard fought battle in frame four eventually went to the home side's Ian Birks, who despite being unfortunately snookered on match ball pink which was over the pocket, did not let that deter him and went up and down off the top cushion judged to perfection to clip in the winning ball.
And Slack and Birks, buoyed by their previous successes, notched runs of 34 and 25 respectively to complete a great nights work.

Tansley Potters fell 3-2 at Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 despite Joe Neville continuing his unbeaten run to start the proceedings.
John Smith and Phil Longden nudged the Amber Valley cueman into the lead and although Steve Hawkins (28 break) equalised, the Smiths, John and Cole, steered the hosts to victory.

Therefore dual champions Edgefold No1 reach the summit again on the most wins rule, which is all that separates a four-way tie at the top, as they defeated Bolehill No2 4-1.
Dale Shaw gave the visitors the lead after a tight battle but Rob Muxlow (34 and 25 breaks) and Steve Burton (22 and 20) were in excellent form and soon afterwards Duncan Harwood delivered the decisive blow before teaming up with Muxlow for pairs success.

Also joining in the tie at the top are Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2, another team taking maximum points on the night, this time at Crich Comrades.
Adam Cupit and Jack Lowe won each of their singles and doubles legs and although Nick Berry notched a run of 23, it was still not quite enough to get over the line against Alex Fisher.

Both Clay Cross teams took 3-2 wins. The No1 team defeated Belper RBL 3-2 with Duncan Waring delivering another high break of 44 to equalise at 2-2 and then teaming up with Graham Jones to take a 69-31 doubles verdict.
Tony Blant (23 break) had given the Brotherhood the early lead before Mark Newby (who did not concede a point in his win which may be a league record) and Paul Jarrett, on the black, engineered a fightback.

Clay Cross No2 scored a 3-2 success at Edgefold No3. John Roseman and Andrew Bailey steered them home in the doubles with an 80-33 triumph after Callum Greenfield and Damian Woodward (on the black) had struck earlier. Sam Kniveton and Conrad Spencer were on target for the hosts.

The Classic Gas Bodyshop Billiards League saw Bolehill Institute take a 12-9 win from Mayfield Institute while Whitworth Institute defeated Tansley Potters 11-9 despite an excellent break of 40 from Steve Hawkins.

T & M Motors Snooker League week 08: Bolehill Institute No1 5, Edgefold Matlock No2 0; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 3, Tansley Potters 2; Edgefold Matlock No1 4, Bolehill Institute No2 1; Crich Comrades 0, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 5; Clay Cross Brotherhood No1 3, Belper Royal British Legion 2; Edgefold Matlock No3 2, Clay Cross Brotherhood No2 5.
Breaks (inc. comps): D Waring 44; R Slack 34,25,24; R Muxlow 34,25; S Hawkins 28; I Birks 25; N Berry 23,23; T Blant 23; J Roseman 23; S Burton 22,20.
Clay Cross Brotherhood sponsored Player of the Week: Duncan Waring (Clay Cross No1).

Classic Gas Bodyshop Billiards League week 04: Mayfield Institute 9, Bolehill Institute 12; Whitworth Institute 11, Tansley Potters 9.
Breaks: S Hawkins 40.

T & M Motors Snooker League        P        W        L      Pts 

Edgefold Matlock No 1                        8         6         2      23

Alfreton P Morewood No 2                  7         5         2      23

Edgefold Matlock No 2                        7         5         2      23

Tansley Potters                                    8         5         3      23

Belper Royal British Legion                 8         4         4      22

Bolehill Institute No1                           8         4         4      22

Alfreton P Morewood No 1                  8         4         4      21

Clay Cross Brotherhood No1              8         4         4      21

Clay Cross Brotherhood No2              7         4         4      21

Crich Comrades                                  8         2         6      14

Edgefold Matlock No 3                        8         2         6      14

Bolehill Institute No2                           8         1         7        8

Leading breaks: D Waring 47, I McKay 46.
Leading wins: J Neville 8/8; R Ferguson & J Lowe 7/7.

Classic Gas Bodyshop Billiards League       P     W      D       L     Pts
Bolehill Institute                                                 4       3       0       1      43
Whitworth Institute                                             4       2       0       2      41
Mayfield Institute                                                4       1       0       3     38
Tansley Potters                                                  4       2       0       2      36

Leading breaks: J McCann 91 & 48; S Hawkins 40.
Leading wins: J McCann 4/4; others 2/4.