FIVE-WAY TIE AT THE TOP AFTER 3rd ROUND OF FIXTURES

IAN BIRKS ... starring role for BOLEHILL No 1

WITH A five-way tie at the top of the T & M Motors League and just five points separating all ten teams, it certainly couldn't be much tighter after the third round of fixtures were played out.

Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 2 are already many people's tips for the title and they entertained Bolehill No 1 with a narrow lead at the head of affairs prior to the break-off.
Bolstered by Chesterfield League hotshot Steve Donner (51 break) who came from some way adrift in the opener, the Amber Valley cuemen raced into an early lead before Ricki Slack steadied the ship for the visitors in the next to equalise.
Simon Mays continued his winning form from the previous week with a solid all round display for 2-1 before Ian Birks took centre stage with one of his best performances for Bolehill, notching breaks of 26 and 21 as he secured 72-19 and 66-13 verdicts in singles and doubles respectively to carry his team to success.

Crich No 2 continued their dominance over Whitworth Institute, whom they had beaten 6-1 in the Six Red Cup recently and this time recorded a 4-1 tiumph with Ady Lowe (runs of 31 and 22) in fine form though Mark Gwynne-Jones retained his unbeaten record for the hosts.

Edgefold just saw off Crich No 1 team 3-2 with a thrilling 75-64 victory for Sean Dobney and Sam Lavelle in the concluding pairs leg sealing the deal after Paul Trevett and Nick Berry had hauled the Tramwaymen level

Matlock Golf Club took a 4-1 win back from Bolehill No 2 for whom Joe Neville continued to roll back the years with a second successive win while Les Mooney and Tony Blant scored useful contributions en route to individual successes.

Belper Strutt Club defeated Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1 3-2 with Justin Weller and Paul Jarrett taking each of their singles and doubles legs after John Smith had top scored for the home team.
However, the previous night, the roles had been reversed in a delayed Six Red Cup encounter with Alfreton taking the spoils 4-3 after taking four of the first five frames.

League week 3 results: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 2 2, Bolehill Institute No 1 3; Whitworth Institute 1, Crich Comrades No 2 4; Crich Comrades No 1 2, Edgefold Matlock 3; Bolehill Institute No 2 1, Matlock Golf Club 4; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1 2, Belper Strutt Club 3.
Bob McCartin Six Red Cup Group C: Belper Strutt Club 3, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1 4.
Breaks: S Donner 51; A Lowe 31,22; T Blant 29; L Mooney 28; I Birks 26,21; M Gwynne-Jones 26; S Dobney 26; T Broughton 25: K Robertson 25; J Weller 20; R Slack 20.

T & M Motors Snooker League        P       W       L       Pts 
Alfreton P Morewood No 2                  3         2        1        9
Belper Strutt Club                                3         2        1        9
Bolehill Institute No 1                           3         2        1       9
Crich Comrades No 2                          3         2        1       9
Matlock Golf Club                                3         2        1       9
Edgefold Matlock                                 3         2        1       8
Whitworth Institute                               3         2        1       7
Bolehill Institute No 2                           3        1         2       6
Alfreton P Morewood No 1                  3         0         3       5
Crich Comrades No 1                          3         0         3       4
Leading breaks: B Monk 54; S Donner 51.
Leading wins: J Lowe, J Weller, M Gwynne-Jones, D Smith all 3/3.

BOB McCARTIN SIX RED CUP STANDINGS

Group A                              P         W         L         Pts
Crich Comrades No 2         2          1           1           8
Matlock Golf Club               1          1           0           5
Alfreton P Morewood No2  1          1           0           4
Whitworth Institute              2          0           2           4

Group B                              P         W          L         Pts
Edgefold Matlock                2          1           1           7
Bolehill Institute No 1          1          1           0           5
Crich Comrades No 1         1          0           1           2

Group C                              P         W          L         Pts
Belper Strutt Club                2          1           1           9
Alfreton P Morewood No1   1          1           0           4
Bolehill Institute No 2          1          0           1           1

The two bottom placed teams with lowest points per game average are eliminated from KO stages.

GOLF CLUB HIT BACK AT GROUP LEADERS IN SIX RED CUP

LES MOONEY ... in winning form

THREE more Bob McCartin Six Red Cup matches took place in the latest round of games with Group A featuring most prominently with two of the contests taking place in that section.
Matlock Golf Club and Alfreton PM No 2 had missed their opening fixture date so were looking to make up ground and did so with each registering victories on their travels.
The Golf Club went to Crich Comrades No 2, who had taken six points from their opening encounter but the Matlock men hit the straps running with Tony Blant and Les Mooney doing the business in their respective encounters.
Ady Lowe then pulled one back for the hosts but Mooney, appearing again as a reserve due to player shortages with the extra handicap on tow, again came up trumps to make it 3-1 before teaming up with Graham Jones to assure victory before late resistance in the final scotch doubles leg saw Graeme Wood and Martin Caylow reduce the deficit to 5-2.

Alfreton also made up ground with a hard-fought 4-3 win at Whitworth Institute, who have started with two league victories but also now two losses in this competition.
Simon Mays was the main protagonist as he stayed undefeated in all three frames contested in singles and doubles after David Hobson had the hosts off to a flyer.

Elsewhere, Bolehill No 1 opened their six red campaign with a 5-2 win over Edgefold, who had previously done likewise in their opening fixture.
Steve Hawkins nudged the hosts ahead at 2-1 after Sean Dobney had equalised with excellent pots on blue and pink before Ian Birks increased the lead in the next, en route to overall success.

In the much delayed Open Individual Handicap semi final from the previous campaign, Bolehill's Keith Robertson saw off a fightback from Graham Jones to win 3-2 after leading 2-0 and being pegged back to 2-2. He now meets Edgefold's Josh Lee in the final.

Bob McCartin Six Red Cup Group A: Crich Comrades No 2 2, Matlock Golf Club 5; Whitworth Institute 3, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 2 4;. Group B: Bolehill Institute No 1 5, Edgefold Matlock 2.
Open Individual Handicap semi final (from 19/20): Keith Robertson 3, Graham Jones 2.
Breaks: S Hawkins 24; G Jones 24,23.

WHITWORTH SEE OFF CHAMPIONS FOR WIN NUMBER TWO

MARK GWYNNE-JONES secured a Whitworth win

WHITWORTH INSTITUTE earned their second 3-2 victory in as many games with a superb defeat of Matlock Golf Club on their travels in the T & M Motors Snooker League.

Ian McKay opened proceedings for the hosts and it appeared to be a case of business as normal as he took a 75-34 verdict but a black ball win for Peter Lee in the next proved pivotal for the Darley Dale cuemen.

Geoff Brailsford edged a low scoring third frame 44-36 and then Mark Gwynne-Jones delivered a 79-47 scoreline to secure the success before Graham Jones and Les Mooney restored some pride for the golfers.

Edgefold took on Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 2 at Matlock and an entertaining fixture ensued in keeping with both teams' form in the previous week.

Ben Monk's run of 49 tipped the scales firmly in his favour in the opener whilst Gavin Shirley notched breaks of 48 and 34 as he scored heftily in both singles and doubles, where Monk again partnered to good effect. James Travis was on target for the hosts but the Amber Valley cuemen took away a 4-1 decision.

The battle of the Tramwaymen went narrowly to the Crich No 2 outfit 3-2 with Ady Lowe top scoring for the victors after Nick Berry had kept the No 1 Comrades in with a shout with a third frame success.

Elsewhere, the Bolehill teams experienced conflicting fortunes with the No 1 line-up going under 4-1 at Belper Strutt Club. Andrew Brough set them off on the right footing but the home side took control thereafter, with Paul Jarrett top scoring.

But there was joy for Bolehill No 2 as they saw off Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1 3-2 with Joe Neville registering a comeback league victory after a hiatus from competitive snooker of at least 30 years but it was very clear his appearances in the billiards league in the meantime had not detracted from his potting ability. Des Smith continued his good form for the season for the visitors.

League week 2: Matlock Golf Club 2, Whitworth Institute 3; Edgefold Matlock 1, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 2 4; Crich Comrades No 1 2, Crich Comrades No 2 3; Belper Strutt Club 4, Bolehill Institute No 1 1; Bolehill Institute No 2 3, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1 2.

Breaks: B Monk 49; G Shirley 48,34; J Weller 20.

BEN AND SEAN STAR IN EARLY FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR

SEAN DOBNEY ... barrage of breaks to open season

THE BREAKS were flying in the opening round of T & M Motors Snooker League fixtures with Ben Monk and Sean Dobney the main protagonists, en route to helping their teams to respective early successes.
Edgefold travelled to Alfreton No 1 and produced one of their best performances in recent times, taking a 4-1 victory with debutant Steve Clarke making a winning start, after a tight battle 72-60.
Des Smith with a black ball victory levelled matters in the next before James Travis turned on the style with a 62-10 salvo in frame three.
Captain Sean Dobney piled on the pressure in the remaining singles and doubles legs as he notched runs of 39,32,23 and 21 whilst Travis chipped in with his own contribution of 30 as the Matlock cuemen achieved landslide verdicts of 87-32 and 98-27.

BEN MONK

Ben Monk surged to the top of the breaks chart the very next evening however with his effort of 54 helping him to a century points haul in Alfreton No 2's opening frame at Bolehill No 2.
They raced 3-0 up before Keith Robertson halted progress with winning appearances in both singles and doubles to narrow the gap to the minimum margin at the curtain call.

Bolehill No 1 somehow claimed all five points off Crich No 1, with Ricki Slack and Simon Zoppi each taking victory thanks to their opponent going in-off on the final black, and in Ade Smith's case actually potting it first only to see the cue-ball disappear behind it. Colin Marchington had earlier been in fine form for the hosts.
Elsewhere, Whitworth Institute scored a commendable 3-2 win over last time's runners-up Belper Strutt Club with captain Geoff Brailsford taking both frames he contested after Justin Weller had nudged the visitors in front.

And reigning champions Matlock Golf Club eased back into business with a similar win at Crich No 2. Ian  McKay top scored as Graham Jones and Les Mooney eked out a 3-2 victory by taking the deciding doubles leg. Dale Shaw and Jack Lowe had their potting boots on for the Tramwaymen.

League week 1: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1 1, Edgefold Matlock 4; Bolehill Institute No 2 2, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 2 3; Bolehill Institute No 1 5, Crich Comrades No 1 0; Whitworth Institute 3, Belper Strutt Club 2; Crich Comrades No 2 2, Matlock Golf Club 3.
Breaks: B Monk 54; S Dobney 39,32,23,21; J Travis 30; S Bullock 25; G Shirley 22; C Marchington 21; A Cupit 20.

GRAEME MAKES HIS MARK ON CRICH COMRADES DEBUT

GRAEME WOOD ... successful debut

THE new season of the T & M Motors Snooker League was ushered in with the group stages of the Bob McCartin Six Red Cup taking centre stage with three of the four scheduled matches taking place.

With Matock Golf Club and Alfreton PM No 2 postponing their opening fixture in Group A, the way was open for Crich Comrades No 2 or Whitworth to steal a march on those two rivals and it was the Tramwaymen who delivered, courtesy of a 6-1 scoreline.

Graeme Wood, having made the switch from Matlock Club (who are not competing this season) took the opener 29-4 and then the two Lowes, Jack and Ady with breaks of 22 and 25 respectively, put the hosts in a commanding position.

This was brought to fruition by Dale Shaw with his 37-13 verdict ensuring victory before Peter Lee and Mark Gwynne-Jones pulled one back for the Darley Dale cueists in the opening doubles leg.

But further pairs wins for Ady Lowe and Wood and then finally the two Lowes made it a memorable return to action for the victors.

Elsewhere, Edgefold defeated Crich No 1 5-2 in Group B with Duncan Harwood winning all three frames he contested in singles and doubles after Dan Gould had put the visitors in front.

And holders Belper Strutt Club started their Group C campaign in scintillating fashion as they defeated Bolehill Institute No 2 6-1.

Paul Jarrett and Justin Weller edged tight frames for the Strutt cuemen as they raced into a big lead before Mick and Darren Bunting offered some late doubles resistance for the hosts.

Bob McCartin Six Red Cup, Group A: Crich Comrades No 2 6, Whitworth Institute 1; Group B: Edgefold Matlock 5, Crich Comrades No 1 2; Group C: Bolehill Institute No 2 1, Belper Stutt Club 6.
Breaks: A Lowe 25; J Lowe 22; D Gould 22.

GOLF CLUB ENSURE REPEAT FINAL OF JAEGER TROPHY

IAN McKAY took the opening frame for MATLOCK GOLF CLUB

IT will be a case of deja vu when Matlock Golf Club take on Belper Strutt Club in a few weeks time as the two teams will stage a repeat of the previous season's Jaeger Trophy final, albeit that circumstances dictate that seems like a very long time ago.

The Golf Club hosted Bolehill Institute No 1 in the delayed 2019/20 play-off semi final and it was certainly evident that the break had taken its toll with plenty of rustiness in abundance.

Ian McKay and Colin Marchington battled out a nip-and-tuck opener before McKay edged ahead, ultimately taking blue to secure the frame and the pink to make doubly sure with a margin of 62-38.

Bolehill's Andrew Brough held the ascendancy for much of the second frame but a missed pink proved the turning point and after an untimely in-off, home team captain Graham Jones stepped in to take pink and black and also the frame 61-51.

And it was soon game over with Tony Blant securing a 65-36 win over Ricki Slack with some astute tactical play the order of the day against the opposing team's captain, as well as taking blue, pink and black to rubber stamp a comfortable victory.

Ian Birks managed to restore some pride for the visitors as he snatched a black ball win over Les Mooney 51-46 and with the pairs leg academic, the teams pulled up stumps for the evening afterwards.
Jaeger Trophy play off semi-final: Matlock Golf Club 3, Bolehill Institute No 1 1.

ALFRETON BOUNCE BACK TO SECURE JIMMY HARPER CUP

ALFRETON PALMER MOREWOOD Jimmy Harper Cup winners
L-R: Ben Monk, Andrew Haggarty, Des Smith and John Smith.

ALFRETON PALMER MOREWOOD bounced back from a reverse in the previous week's Jaeger Trophy play-off semi-final to come out with all guns blazing in a 325-270 verdict over visitors Bolehill Institute No 1 in the Jimmy Harper Cup Team Plate final.

Des Smith started the ball rolling with an exquisite 36 break the highlight of his 87-46 opening salvo before Steve Hawkins clawed some of the points back with his 79-58 win in the next.

Home captain Andrew Haggarty increased the Amber Valley cuemen's lead as he ground out a 62-44 success in frame three and after John Smith's 83-34 romp in the next, the writing was on the wall for an unfamiliar Bolehill line-up who were without a few regulars.

Ricki Slack and Gray Astle at least added some respectability to the final aggregate scores but Alfreton were never in any serious danger of coming unstuck in the concluding doubles leg.

This more than made up for the disappointment of the previous week which saw Belper Strutt Club progress to the play off final courtesy of a 4-1 victory.

Steve Bullock fired the home side ahead before black-ball verdicts for Justin Weller and Wayne Shooter ensured progress to the main stage. Mark Newby piled on the agony in the next before  John Smith and Andrew Haggarty finally stemmed the tide for the visitors in the pairs leg. 

Jimmy Harper Cup (Team Aggregate Plate) final: Alfreton Palmer Morewood 325, Bolehill Institute No 1 270.
Jaeger Trophy Play-off semi final: Belper Strutt Club 4, Alfreton Palmer Morewood 1.
Breaks: D Smith 36; J Smith 22.