RUSSELL RUNS RIOT BUT BOLEHILL GET OVER THE LINE

WINNING players on the night for Bolehill No 1 RICKI SLACK and IAN BIRKS

THE third and concluding finals week of the season saw the grand finale of the league play offs for the Jaeger Trophy at Belper Strutt Club along with the Denis Morton Pairs trophy final at Matlock's Edgefold Club.
Contesting the team event were Joinery Joint League champions Edgefold No 1, looking for their third win in seven seasons in the competition, and third placed Bolehill Institute No 1 who were appearing in the final showdown for the first time.
In what was a thrilling encounter, Rob Muxlow (21 break) gave the Matlock cuemen an early advantage as he defeated Simon Zoppi 61-35 with a fine display of potting.
Ricki Slack (22 break) soon equalised, taking green, brown and blue to score a 64-42 success over Neil Parkinson and then Andy Russell (27 break) came from forty adrift to edge out Andrew Brough on the pink 67-58.
The game looked all but over with Duncan Harwood leading Ian Birks by thirty with two reds left in frame four but a magnificent comeback culminated with Birks fluking pink along the bottom cushion and then sinking the black to take the match into a deciding doubles frame.
And with Bolehill leading 54-7 it seemed the coveted silverware was heading Wirksworth way until danger man Russell stepped in with a superb sequence of shot-making to engineer a 47 break out of nothing and level the scores with just the black to come.
Left with a difficult pot after failing to gain ideal position, the ace marksman couldnt quite get the requisite amount of cut required to convert and after a bout of  tactical jostling, the opportunity eventually fell for Slack to despatch a straight black of middle range into the corner pocket for a historic Bolehill win.

DUAL Pairs champions DUNCAN HARWOOD and ANDY RUSSELL

The Edgefold men were back in action the following night in the pairs final, with Harwood and Russell defending their trophy against team mates Parkinson and Muxlow.
Russell continued on from his break-building mode of the previous night with runs of 43,28 and 23 as he and Harwood surged two ahead early doors.
Muxlow and Parkinson took a tactical third frame 66-45 but a run of 34 from Russell increased the champs' lead to 3-1 and they edged a tight fourth 65-50 to seal the deal.

Play off final for the Jaeger Trophy: Edgefold Matlock No 1 2, Bolehill Institute No 1 3 (at Belper Strutt Club).
Denis Morton Pairs Handicap final: Andy Russell and Duncan Harwood 4, Neil Parkinson and Robert Muxlow 1.
Breaks: A Russell 47,43,34,28,27,23; R Slack 22; R Muxlow 21.

DUNC GOES ONE BETTER AFTER RYAN WINS AT BOLEHILL

RYAN TAYLOR with the Open Individual Handicap trophy

RYAN TAYLOR of Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 2, bookmarked a successful first season in the Joinery Joint Snooker League by winning the Open Individual Handicap, defeating Edgefold No 1's Duncan Harwood 4-1 in the final at Bolehill Institute.
Taylor took the opener after a double kiss on the deciding black left it over the corner pocket but Harwood levelled in the next 50-35.
The match was a battle of tenacity throughout and Taylor again struck the front with a 59-17 verdict in frame three, after which a classy run of 30 soon put him one away from victory.
And a 59-37 scoreline gave him the much coveted trophy.

DUNCAN HARWOOD with the "B" Individual trophy

Harwood didn't have to wait long before he made amends though, as the following night he lifted the "B" (Intermediate) Individual Handicap trophy, defeating Bolehill No 2's Kevin Munnelly 3-0 in the final at Matlock Golf Club.
The Edgefold cueman took the first 67-30 with some solid matchplay before seeing match ball pink wobble around the middle pocket in the next. Munnelly stepped in for the kill but after taking pink and then black, he looked on in anguish as the cue ball disappeared into the opposite corner pocket to concede the frame.
And Harwood remained in the box seat from thereon as he made no mistake in the next, taking it 59-31,

Meanwhile, the Jaeger Trophy play off semi finals for the top four got underway and there was a thriller between league champions Edgefold No 1 and Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 2 which saw the Matlock team edge victory on the final black after at one point needing a snooker in the concluding doubles leg.
Andy Russell sank the vital pink and black after levelling matters at 2-2 in his singles frame. John Smith top scored for the visitors.

Bolehill No 1 will meet them in the final at Belper Strutt Club after securing a 3-1 win at Alfreton No 1. Ricki Slack's 42 break saw off danger-man Jamie Rowland in frame three and then Ian Birks wrapped up the win after Andrew Beardsley had equalised for the Amber Valley cuemen in the second frame.

Open Individual Handicap final: Ryan Taylor 4, Duncan Harwood 1 (at Bolehill Institute).
"B" (Intermediate) Individual Handicap final: Duncan Harwood 3, Kevin Munnelly 0 (at Matlock Golf Club).
Jaeger Trophy Play off semi finals: Edgefold Matlock No 1 3, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 2 2; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1 1, Bolehill Institute No 1 3.
Breaks: R Slack 42; R Taylor 30; K Rowland 29; I Birks 21.

GOLF CLUB TAKE CAPTAINS CUP AFTER TIGHT BATTLE

MATLOCK GOLF CLUB  L-R: Paul Roe, Graham Jones, Tony Blant and Ian McKay.

MATLOCK GOLF CLUB went out with a bang in their final match of the season as they defeated league champions Edgefold No 1 314-287 in the final of the Captains Cup which was played on Edge Road after a toss of the coin.
The first frame was a battle of sheer tenacity as Edgefold's Neil Parkinson (30 break) engineered a 76-54 verdict which lasted for an hour though the match was soon back in the balance as Graham Jones took the next 63-49,
Paul Roe's 66-24 victory saw the golfmen ahead for the first time in the evening and then Tony Blant scored a narrow but crucial win over danger-man Andy Russell to further consolidate their position.
And although Russell and Rob Muxlow took the concluding doubles 65-49, it wasn't quite enough and the Golf Club made amends for their league defeat of the previous week.

BELPER STRUTT CLUB L-R: Mark Newby, Paul Jarrett, Steve Bullock and Justin Weller.

The Jimmy Harper Plate final also took place at Edgefold and saw Belper Strutt Club defeat Bolehill Institute No 2 280-241.
Mark Newby's 42 point margin victory in frame one set the tone though Keith Robertson pulled back a few points in the next with a narrow win.
Steve Bullock and Martin Forster shared the next two and then Bullock and Newby successfully protected the lead of 30 going into the concluding doubles leg with a 52-43 success.

ANDY RUSSELL and GRAHAM JONES, OMYA Cup finalists, shake hands.

The OMYA Cup Individual Scratch final saw a repeat of last season's clash between Andy Russell and Graham Jones and again it was the Edgefold man who emegered victorious, this time via a 4-1 triumph at Alfreton with breaks of 35,30,24 and 23, eventually taking the fifth frame on a re-spotted black after Jones had took blue pink and black to level.

Captains Cup (Team Aggregate) final: Matlock Golf Club 314, Edgefold Matlock No 1 287 (at Edgefold).
Jimmy Harper Plate (Team Aggregate) final: Belper Strutt Club 280, Bolehill Institute No 2 241 (at Edgefold).
OMYA Cup (Individual Scratch) final: Andy Russell 4, Graham Jones 1 (at Alfreton Palmer Morewood).
Breaks: A Russell 35,30,25,24,24,23; N Parkinson 30; G Jones 23.

EDGEFOLD No 1 BATTLE HARD TO SECURE LEAGUE TITLE

THE final week turned into the thrilling conclusion it had promised as Edgefold No 1 and Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1 went at it hammer and tongs in their respective final matches and in the end just one point separated them at the top over the whole Joinery Joint Snooker League season.
Alfreton No 2 were also still in contention if they could upset their No 1 team with a wide margin win but that notion was soon quashed as Andrew Beardsley and Paul Pilsworth took the opening two frames.
Ralph Edgson took the next and then Kevin Rowland, on the black, set up what could have been a pending whitewash but John Smith and Andrew Haggarty restored some pride for the defeated.

So the 4-1 win for Alfreton No 1 left Edgefold No 1 needing the same scoreline to take the league championship trophy for the second time in three seasons but it didn't start well as Matlock Golf Club's Ian McKay took the opening frame.
Neil Parkinson emerged from a hard fought tactical frame to equalise, however, and despite Paul Roe's 36 break in the next, Duncan Harwood produced a masterful performance to take a red, colour and all the remaining balls in several visits to take the frame on the black.
Andy Russell then made it 3-1 with an 81-65 verdict and then took the deciding black in the doubles from right under the cushion, aptly helping to win one of the tightest league battles of all time for his by a final  frame score of 45-44.

Bolehill No 1 finished third after an inactive final week and the No 2 team from that neck of the woods probably wished they had been too as they fell 5-0 to Belper Strutt Club.
Steve Bullock and Mark Newby each won on the black to get the visitors rolling en route to their ninth win in ten games in all competitions and their second successive whitewash.

League week 18 results: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 2 1, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1 4; Matlock Golf Club 1, Edgefold Matlock No 1 4; Bolehill Institute No 2 0, Belper Strutt Club 5.
Breaks: P Roe 36.

The Joinery Joint Snooker League
                                          P      W      L      Pts
Edgefold Matlock No 1     16      10      6     51
Alfreton P Morewd No 1   16     12       4     50
Bolehill Institute No 1        16     11       5     48
Alfreton P Morewd No 2   16       9       7     45
Matlock Golf Club             16       7       9     43
Belper Strutt Club             16       9       7     39
Bolehill Institute No 2        16       6     10     34
Edgefold Matlock No 2      16       6     10     27
Matlock Club                      16       2     14     23
Leading breaks: P Roe & R Slack 46.
Leading wins: J Rowland 12/13; R Slack & A Russell 12/16.

REMAINING SEMI FINAL AND FINAL DATES

DATES and venues for the finals of the remaining competitions have provisionally arranged been arranged.
Matches to be played off the latest handicaps on the scheduled date of the ties (if any are delayed and handicaps change subsequently, the original match handicap will stand).
Please contact the secretary ASAP if there are any problems fulfilling a fixture.

CAPTAINS CUP (Team Handicap)  Final
5 Frames - Aggregate To Count - 7.30pm
Mon Apr 24: Matlock Golf Club v Edgefold Matlock No 1
(tossed for venue, at Edgefold)

OMYA CUP (Individual Scratch) Final
Best of 7 Frames - off Scratch - 7.00pm
Tue Apr 25: A Russell (Edgefold Matlock 1) v G Jones (Matlock Golf Club)
(at Alfreton Palmer Morewood)

JIMMY HARPER PLATE (Team Handicap) Final
5 Frames - Aggregate To Count - 7.30pm
Wed Apr 26: Belper Strutt Club v Bolehill Institute No 2
(at Edgefold Club, Matlock)

JAEGER TROPHY - CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS PLAY OFF Semi Finals
Best of 5 Frames - Usual Handicaps Apply - 7.30pm
Tue May 02: Edgefold Matlock No 1 v Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 2
Tue May 02: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1 v Bolehill Institute No 1

OPEN INDIVIDUAL HANDICAP Final
Best of 7 Frames - Usual Handicaps Apply - 7.15pm
Wed May 03: R Taylor (Alfreton PM 2) v D Harwood (Edgefold 1)
(at Bolehill Institute)

"B" (INTERMEDIATE) INDIVIDUAL HANDICAP Final
Best of 5 Frames - Usual Handicaps Apply - 7.30pm
Thu May 04: D Harwood (Edgefold Matlock 1) v K Munnelly (Bolehill Institute 2)
(at Matlock Golf Club)

JAEGER TROPHY - CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS PLAY OFF Final
Best of 5 Frames - Usual Handicaps Apply - 7.30pm
Mon May 08: Winner Semi Final 1 v Winner Semi Final 2
(at Belper Strutt Club)

DENIS MORTON TROPHY (Pairs Handicap) Final
Best of 7 Frames - Usual Handicaps Apply - 7.00pm
Tue May 09:  N Parkinson / A Russell (Edg 1) v D Harwood / A Russell (Edg 1)
(at Edgefold Club, Matlock)

ALL TO PLAY FOR IN LEAGUE BUT JAMIE TOPS WINS CHART

PLAYER OF THE SEASON JAMIE ROWLAND

FOUR TEAMS still hold a chance of the Joinery Joint League title going into the final round of fixtures though realistically it would seem Edgefold No 1 and Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1 look set to fight it out in their respective matches.
Bolehill No 1 still top the table by a single point but have run out of games following their 3-2 home loss to Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 2, giving the victors a treble over their hosts for the season, including cup games.
Colin Marchington took a scrappy opener 69-49 before Derek Smith zoomed 50 ahead of Ricki Slack with some stunning potting in the next until a fine rally from the host player took the frame to the final black.
However, an overcut attempt into the middle pocket proved costly and once again all rested on the black in frame three, this time Simon Zoppi taking it with a fine long pot.
John Smith equalised at 2-2 before a tight pairs frame ended with Zoppi unfortunately knocking in the black with his attempt on the blue and thereafter leaving a straight pot on match ball which was readily accepted.

Alfreton No 2 can still take the title with a 5-0 win, assuming Edgefold don't gain more than two points from their last game. Meanwhile, Bolehill would need the Matlock team to register one point or less while hoping for a win for Alfreton No 2 by less than the maximum possible.

Edgefold No 1 egded out Matlock Club 3-2 to remain in the favourites slot with wins for Duncan Harwood and Andy Russell in singles and doubles, the latter from well adrift. Graeme Wood was in excellent form for the visitors, amassing 90pts.

Alfreton No 1 remained a point behind after their 3-2 home win over Bolehill No 2. Jamie Rowland's third frame success ensures he will be this season's most-winning player with 12 out of 13 while Ian Peacock excelled for the vanquished.

Elsewhere, Belper Strutt Club continued their winning spree in the second half of the season with a 5-0 defeat of Edgefold No 2. Wayne Shooter's 30 break was the highlight.

Matlock Golf Club, coming off their bye week, face Edgefold No 1 while the two Alfreton teams lock horns in a mouth watering final week. Golf Club can still force a play off place if they score a large win and either of the Alfreton teams falter badly in their showdown.

League; Bolehill Institute No 1 2, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 2 3; Edgefold Matlock No 1 3, Matlock Club 2; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1 3, Bolehill Institute No 2 2; Belper Strutt Club 5, Edgefold Matlock No 2 0. Bye week: Matlock Golf Club.
Breaks: W Shooter 30; J Rowland 28.

The Joinery Joint Snooker League
                                          P      W      L      Pts
Bolehill Institute No 1        16     11       5     48
Edgefold Matlock No 1     15       9       6     47
Alfreton P Morewd No 1   15     11       4     46
Alfreton P Morewd No 2   15       9       6     44
Matlock Golf Club             15       7       8     42
Belper Strutt Club             15       8       7     34
Bolehill Institute No 2        15       6       9     34
Edgefold Matlock No 2      16       6     10     27
Matlock Club                      16       2     14    23
Leading breaks: P Roe & R Slack 46.
Leading wins: J Rowland 12/13; R Slack 12/16; A Russell 11/15.

(*In the event of a tie for the championship or runners up spot, tie breaker is firstly most wins, followed secondly  by head to head record from the two league games, and then a play off.) To clarify I have gone through the minute books and found this rule was voted in, August 2001.

GOLF CLUB OUT TO MAKE AMENDS IN A SECOND FINAL

IAN McKAY scored a fine win for MATLOCK GOLF CLUB

AFTER missing out at the final hurdle in the Six Red Cup, Matlock Golf Club were out to reach a second final as they entertained Matlock Club in the semi final of the Captains Cup.

Ian McKay got his team off to a fine start with a 95-49 verdict to set the ball rolling and a 57-44 scoreline in favour of Tony Blant put the home team 59 ahead.

Dave Allen with a black ball win reduced the arrears and then Graeme Wood took the next by nine points but the visitors were still 44 adrift going into the concluding doubles leg.

And McKay and Blant took no chances as they played out a gritty frame to take the spoils 49-43 and secure the much coveted final spot with a 295-245 verdict.

Their opponents will be Edgefold No 1, who defeated Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 2 372-264. Andy Russell was the star of the show as he amassed century points hauls in both singles and doubles, whilst Neil Parkinson also scored heavily.

Derek Smith and Tom Broughton put up a stern fight for the hosts.

In the Jimmy Harper Plate semi finals, Belper Strutt Club won their seventh match in eight games in all competitions, defeating visitors Bolehill No 1 329-244 with Wayne Shooter making sure of success with a wide margin win in frame four after the hosts had won the first three on the black.

Bolehill No 2 had better luck with a 320-170 success over Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1; Ian Peacock was in stupendous form with a 96-21 triumph in the opener whilst only Ralph Edgson could offer any resistance for the Amber Valley cuemen.

Earlier in the week, the two Bolehill team played out their re-arranged fixture and the No 1 team came from 2-0 down to win by the minimum margin with Ian Birks notching breaks of 23,21 and 20 after Kevin Munnelly's superb pink had put his team in the ascendancy early doors.

Captains Cup (Team Agg) semi finals: Matlock Golf Club 295, Matlock Club 245; ; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 2 264, Edgefold Matlock No 1 372.

League (re-arranged): Bolehill Institute No 2 2, Bolehill Institute No 1 3

Jimmy Harper Plate (Team Agg) semi finals: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1 170, Bolehill Institute No 2 320; Belper Strutt Club 329, Bolehill Institute No 1 244.

Breaks: A Russell 28,24; S Hawkins 27; I Birks 23,21,20.