TRAMWAYMEN SHOCK ALFRETON AS ROB TURNS SCREW

ROB MULLISS

T & M MOTORS SNOOKER LEAGUE action returned for the first time in 2023 and the result of the week without doubt was Crich Comrades' 4-1 defeat of reigning champions and title favourites Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 2 on School Lane.
It started off looking like business as normal as Ben Monk, enjoying a purple patch in the New Year, notched breaks of 46 and 22 in amassing 117 points in the opening frame.
Ade Smith levelled matters in the next aided by a couple of sublime snookers to triumph 61-50 and then Cliff Gould edged a nailbiting third frame with a 60-58 verdict.
Rob Mulliss entered the fray forthwith and showed all of his top division Chesterfield League pedigree to make it 3-1 with a run of 27 then a superb 60 break in the concluding doubles leg put the icing on the cake for the Tramwaymen.

Tansley Potters usurped last week's leaders Edgefold No 1 with a 4-1 win at Jackhill Farm with Radford Neville top scoring amongst consistent scores throughout while Sean Dobney and Duncan Harwood managed to avoid the whitewash on the final black in the doubles leg.

Edgefold No 2 won 3-2 on a re-spotted black against Matlock Golf Club with Chris Parker's colours clearance proving in vain as Rob Muxlow and Roy Taylor emerged victorious from the shootout.
It was amazingly Muxlow's second winning re-spotted black of the night, having seen off Graham Jones earlier despite the latter coming from forty adrift to level.

Alfreton No 3 continue in good nick as they defeated Belper Strutt Club 4-1 with in form players Jack Lowe and Wayne Shooter top scoring respectively.

Alfreton No 1 also defeated Bolehill Institute 4-1 with Des Smith topping and tailing the result, excelling in the singles with a 70-15 success and then fluking the final black in the doubles to consign Bolehill to the bottom, with only Ricki Slack successful after taking the last four colours.

In the Elliott Carpets Billiards League, Bolehill Institute edged out Mayfield Institute 12-10 while Tansley Potters took an 11-8 win over Whitworth Institute, for whom Jim McCann remains unbeaten.

T & M Motors Snooker League week 8: Crich Comrades 4, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 1; Tansley Potters 4, Edgefold Matlock No1 1; Edgefold Matlock No2 3, Matlock Golf Club 2; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No3 4, Belper Strutt Club 1; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 4, Bolehill Institute 1.
Breaks (all competitions): R Mulliss 60,27; B Monk 46,39,35,31,29,22; C Parker 27; J Smith 27; R Slack 25.

Elliott Carpets Billiards League: Bolehill Institute 12, Mayfield Institute 10; Tansley Potters 11, Whitworth Institute 8.
Breaks: J McCann 37; S Hawkins 30.

T & M Motors Snooker League        P        W       L       Pts
Tansley Potters                                    8          6        2       22
Alfreton P Morewood No 3                  7          5        2       22 
Matlock Golf Club                                7          4        3       20 
Edgefold Matlock No 1                        8          3        5       20
Alfreton P Morewood No 2                  6          4        2       18
Crich Comrades                                  7          4        3       18
Edgefold Matlock No 2                        8          4        4       17 
Alfreton P Morewood No 1                  7          3        4       16
Belper Strutt Club                                8          2        6       16
Bolehill Institute                                   8          2        6       16
Leading breaks: S Donner 92, R Mulliss 60.
Leading wins: G Jones & J Lowe 6/7; W Shooter 5/6.

Elliott Carpets Billiards League       P     W      D       L     Pts
Bolehill Institute                                   8       6       1       1     89
Whitworth Institute                               8       3       0       5     88
Mayfield Institute                                 7       3       1       3     73
Tansley Potters                                   7       2       0       5      67
Leading breaks: J McCann 57, S Hawkins 46.
Leading wins: J McCann 8/8; R Slack 7/8.

ALFRETON No2 START DEFENCE OF CUP IN FINE STYLE

KYLE RYDE

JUST TWO matches in the opening round of the Captains Cup Team Aggregate competition with the remainder receiving byes and an interesting clash saw the No 2 and No 3 Alfreton Palmer Morewood teams pitched against each other on Hall Street.

The No2 team started their defence of the trophy in fine style as Kyle Ryde upped the ante with a marvellous 47 break en route to totting up 110 points in the opener against poor Alex Fisher, who was returning to league snooker after a break of several years.
Ben Monk scored a 90-63 win in the next and the signs were looking ominous thereafter as Andrew Beardsley and Jame Rowland piled on the pressure to the point of almost no return.
Fisher and Graeme Wood gained a consolation win in the concluding doubles leg but their team were still left 123 points short after the final black was potted.

Tansley Potters took on Edgefold No2 in the other encounter and the two Nevilles, Joe and Radford put the home team in a commanding position after two frames with an 88 point advantage.
Jamie Wright edged a tight one in the next and then Dal Abu-Bakr made things interesting with a 44-point turnaround in winning the next leaving Tansley 34 points up before the doubles leg.
Radford Neville teamed up with Steve Hawkins to stave off the threat however and take the Potters through to the next round virtue of a 56-45 hard fought decider.

In the singles handicap competition, Ben Monk ran riot with three centuries in each frame of his 3-0 win including breaks of 58,43,42,37,36 and 27, while Sean Dobney ironically had a run of 50 in the only frame he lost of his own 3-1 victory.

And in a re-arranged league fixture, Matlock Golf Club edged out Belper Strutt Club 3-2 with Les Mooney and Justin Weller top scoring respectively.

In the billiards, high-flying Whitworth fell twice to Bolehill, firstly in the Captains Cup team aggregate competition (Andrew Brough setting the tone with a 59-point success) and then 11-10 in the Elliott Carpets Billiards League, with Ricki Slack notching runs of 37 and 34. Jim McCann also had runs of 32 and 30 over the two games.

Tansley also edged out Whitworth 12-10 (Jim McCann 39 break) in a re-arranged league match which means the gap is now just three points at the top as teams close up.
Mayfield joined in on the act with their own  14-10 success over Tansley (Joe Neville 31 break).

Snooker Captains Cup (Team Aggregate) first round: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No3 264, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 387; Tansley Potters 307, Edgefold Matlock No2 262.
League (re-arranged): Matlock Golf Club 3, Belper Strutt Club 2.
Breaks (inc. all comps): B Monk 58,43,43,37,36,27;S Dobney 50;  K Ryde 47; J Weller 30,22; R Slack 24,21. 

Elliott Carpets Billiards League: Whitworth Institute 10, Bolehill Institute 11; Whitworth Institute 10, Tansley Potters 12; Mayfield Institute 14, Tansley Potters 10.
Billiards Captains Cup (Team Aggregate) semi final: Bolehill Institute beat Whitworth Institute.
Breaks: J McCann 39,32,30; R Slack 37,34; J Neville 31.

Elliott Carpets Billiards League       P     W      D       L     Pts
Whitworth Institute                               7       3       0       4     80
Bolehill Institute                                   7       5       1       1     77
Mayfield Institute                                 6       3       1       2      63
Tansley Potters                                   6       1       0       5      56
Leading breaks: J McCann 57, S Hawkins 46.
Leading wins: J McCann 7/7; R Slack 6/7.

ALFRETON No 2 AND EDGEFOLD No 1 REACH 6-RED FINAL

SEAN DOBNEY ... 33 break

ALFRETON PALMER MOREWOOD No 2 and EDGEFOLD CLUB No 1 will meet in the Bob McCartin Six Red Cup final after both secured solid victories on their home baize over Tansley Potters and Alfreton No 2 respectively.
Ben Monk's powerful line-up were off to a flyer when Kyle Ryde (23 break) set the wheels in motion but Radford Neville took the next on the black to keep the scores at level pegging.
Ant McMahon with a run of 20 took a crucial black ball decider in the next but still Tansley hit back as Gray Astle made it 2-2 again with the frame decided on the final black.
But the home side took control in the scotch doubles legs as Andrew Beardsley teamed up successfully with Kevin Rowland for 3-2 and then Jamie Rowland and McMahon delivered the conclusive blow soon afterwards.

In the other semi, Edgefold No 1 went ahead with a sublime break of 33 from Sean Dobney setting the tone before Duncan Harwood edged a black ball thriller in the next for 2-0.
It was the point of no return for the visitors after James Travis scored a convincing win in frame three but Andrew Haggarty (21 break) kept the game alive going into the scotch doubles legs.
However, Harwood and Steven Clark ground out a hard fought verdict to secure a final place in the next before the final two frames were shared.
Edgefold will be hoping to avenge a 7-0 defeat in the group stages by their final opponents but there will be everything to play for when the teams start level again in a few weeks time.

Bob McCartin Six Red Cup semi finals: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 4, Tansley Potters 2; Edgefold Matlock No1 5, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 2.
Breaks: S Dobney 33; K Ryde 23; B Monk 21; A Haggarty 21; A McMahon 20.

UPDATED COMPETITION DRAWS FOR SCRATCH & H'CAP

THE draws for the second rounds of the relevant individual competitions and semi finals of the six red team cup were made recently.

As agreed by the committee, dates will be put on the matches again this season, though you can of course play them in advance of the set date by re-arranging with your opponent (please give more than 48 hours notice). 7.30pm start unless stated or else agreed differently prior to match.
If absolutely necessary, you can re-schedule it within an extra 7 days, failing agreement you can apply to the match secretary for a further 7 days to play it.
If someone doesn't contact the opposition and then fails to show, they are eliminated obviously.
Contact relevant team captains or the secretary for any required contact info.
Dates will be added for later rounds when match ups become known.
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).
Matches to take place as drawn for the semi finals, and finals will take place at selected neutral venues or if agreed, toss of a coin for venue between parties, all matches best of 5 this season with finals best of 7 (except "B" final which is best of 5).
Note that substitute players switching over from other teams in same club are not eligible to play in team semi finals or finals.

BOB McCARTIN SIX RED TEAM CUP Semi Finals
Best of 7 Frames - 7.30pm (w/c January 3rd)
Four singles and three scotch doubles frames (use six red handicaps)
Tue Jan 03: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 2 v Tansley Potters

Sun Jan 08: Edgefold Matlock No 1 v Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1

DENIS MORTON PAIRS HANDICAP TROPHY First Round
Best of 5 Frames - Normal League Handicaps apply - 7.30pm unless stated

Mon Jan 02: R Muxlow / R Taylor (Edg 2) +5 v S Dobney / J Travis (Edg 1) -5

Thu Jan 05: D Smith / T Broughton (APM 1) -7 v L Mooney / T Blant (MGC) -12

Others receive byes to second round

CAPTAINS CUP (Team Aggregate) First Round

5 Frames - Overall Points Aggregate To Count

Mon Jan 09: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 3 v Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 2

Tue Jan 10: Tansley Potters v Edgefold Matlock No 2

Others receive byes to second round

RE-ARRANGED LEAGUE GAME (Both teams are free this week if suitable)

Tue Jan 10: Matlock Golf Club v Belper Strutt Club (7pm)

OPEN INDIVIDUAL HANDICAP Second Round

Best of 5 Frames - Normal League Handicaps apply - 7.30pm unless stated

Mon Jan 09: Sean Dobney (Edgefold 1) -15 v Rob Muxlow* (Edgefold) -5 (7pm)

Mon Jan 09: Ricki Slack (Bolehill) -20 v Justin Weller (Belper Strutt) -15

Mon Jan 09: Steven Clark (Edgefold 1) +5 v Graham Jones (MGC) -15

Tue Jan 10: Ben Monk (Alfreton PM 2) -35 v John Smith (Alfreton PM 1) +5

Wed Jan 11: Joe Neville (Tansley) 0 v James Travis (Edgefold) +5

Wed Jan 11: Ian McKay (MGC) -15 v Jack Lowe (Alfreton PM 3) +5 (7pm)

Thu Jan 12: Des Smith (Alfreton PM 1) -5 v Keith Robertson (Bolehill) -10

Sun Jan 15: Ady Lowe (Alfreton PM 3) -10 v Josh Lee (Edgefold 1) +5

OMYA CUP (Individual Scratch) Second Round

Best of 5 Frames - No handicaps - 7.30pm unless stated
Mon Jan 16: Justin Weller (Belper Strutt) v Rob Muxlow* (Edgefold) (7pm)

Tue Jan 17: Duncan Harwood (Edgefold 1) v Steven Clark (Edgefold 1)

Tue Jan 17: Les Mooney (MGC) v James Travis (Edgefold 1)

Wed Jan 18: Roy Taylor (Edgefold 2) v Josh Lee (Edgefold 1)

Wed Jan 18: Joe Neville (Tansley) v Ben Monk (Alfreton PM 2)

Wed Jan 18: Ricki Slack (Bolehill) v Ady Lowe (Alfreton PM 3)

Thu Jan 19: Ian Doe (Edgefold 1) v Graham Jones (MGC)

Fri Jan 20: Keith Robertson (Bolehill) v Sean Dobney (Edgefold 1)

(* Rob Muxlow has limited availability usually restricted to Mondays so early start suggested as team matches will be taking place the same day, please arrange as best suits.)

Next draws to be published will be the Quarter Finals of all singles and doubles competitions when qualifiers are known.

THE EVENT SPECIALISTS REIGN SUPREME ONCE MORE!

SEAN DOBNEY 

THE POPULAR Christmas Snooker Shootout night produced its usual laughs, thrills and spills along with some hard fought competitive snooker as a field of eighteen turned out as the event made its first appareance at Matlock's Edgefold Club.

The Alan Hopkinson Trophy started proceedings and it was the Edgefold No 1's very own Sean Dobney who snaffled the trophy following up previous wins in the event in 2014 and 2015 when held at Jaxx Q Club.
Sean came through a tough section, also playing in the preliminary round to see off Paul Jarrett (via a fluke on the black!), Des Smith, Andrew Haggarty and Mark Newby before taking on Alfreton No 3's up and coming Jack Lowe in the final.
A run of 24 put the home player well on route to his third win, and despite a red-pink riposte from Lowe, the early colours went Dobney's way to secure his success.

ANDREW HAGGARTY

Andrew Haggarty has pretty much made the Eddie Lomas Speed Snooker Trophy his own in recent years, and it was no exception here as he proved he has all it takes for this unique event once again, making it a fourth win in six seasons overall.
With little table time under his belt this season due to work commitments, there were signs of rustiness in Andy's first clash with Rob Mulliss which he sneaked through before gradually getting into gear in his favourite format.
Victories over team-mate John Smith and Jack Lowe ensued before he saw off Belper Strutt Club's Wayne Shooter in the final in a repeat of the 2016 showdown. Wayne was also a runner-up in the event in 2018 and came through the most exciting match of the event with Roy Taylor when his black ball was adjudged to enter the pocket a milli-second before that of his opponent, who had actually  gotten his shot away first but at a more delicate pace.
Also noteworthy in the event were two miraculous comebacks from Mark Newby, who had looked down and out before a couple of incredible rescue acts, though ultimately it was Shooter, another well suited by this discipline, who ended his run.
Unluckiest player was undoubtedly Duncan Harwood who ended up snookered after playing for the next colour only to find the referee had made an error and not replaced the previous ball on time which then left him cruelly snookered having originally gained what looked a good position so we can only apologise (wasn't me this time though, still remember forgetting to give Charlie the rest a few years ago!!)

WAYNE SHOOTER and ANDREW HAGGARTY

The George Mills Scotch Doubles Trophy completed the night's programme, and again it was Haggarty who was triumphant at the end as he teamed up with his fellow speed finalist Shooter to edge out Ady Lowe and Sean Dobney on the blue. This was Wayne's third win in the event, all with different partners where pairings are drawn out of a hat.

Thanks to all the players who attended, the Edgefold Club for hosting for the first time, and also to James Travis and his associates who took care of the catering side. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Alan Hopkinson Trophy (six reds snooker handicap): winner, Sean Dobney (Edgefold No 1); runner up, Jack Lowe (Alfreton PM No 3).
Eddie Lomas Trophy (speed snoooker, clearing colours, handicap): winner, Andrew Haggarty (Alfreton PM No 1); runner-up, Wayne Shooter (Belper Strutt Club).
George Mills Trophy (six reds scotch doubles handicap): winners, Andrew Haggarty (Alfreton PM No 1) and Wayne Shooter (Belper Strutt Club): runners-up, Sean Dobney (Edgefold No 1) and Ady Lowe (Alfreton PM No 3).
Breaks: S Dobney 24 (in singles final).

ALFRETON TEAMS SUCCEED IN RIP-ROARING CONTESTS

DES SMITH

HOLDERS Belper Strutt Club, with such an impressive record over the years in the Bob McCartin Six Red Cup, were toppled 4-3 on Campbell Street by Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1 in one of a couple of games to do right down to the wire in the quarter final stages.
Des Smith, who was to have a fantastic evening, got the visitors off to a great start with an emphatic 53-7 win in the opener before Justin Weller (21 break) equalised soon afterwards.
Wayne Shooter then edged the hosts in front but again it was level with John Smith taking the next.
So all rested on the scotch doubles legs and it was Weller and Paul Jarrett who struck first to give Strutt a 3-2 advantage before man of the night Des Smith teamed up with firstly Brian Fullard and then brother John for successive narrow margin successes to tilt the game in their favour.

Alfreton No 2 were also taken the distance by Edgefold No 2. Ben Monk (28 & 23 breaks) took the opener but the Matlock men twice levelled through Jamie Wright and Dal Abu-Bakr before eventually Andrew Beardsley and Jamie Rowland took the decisive doubles leg for the hosts with a 52-22 verdict.

The other games saw much more comfortable passages to the next stage. Tansley Potters saw off  Bolehill Institute 6-1 with Gray Astle and Steve Hawkins thrice successful and only Keith Robertson managing a positive reply.

And Edgefold No 1 defeated Matlock Golf Club 4-1 with Duncan Harwood (22 break) notching a 57-9 victory margin and only Ian McKay with a black ball success responding.

In the Billiards semi final of the Captains Cup, Mayfield Institute defeated Tansley Potters with individual wins for Keith Gregory and Steve Hawkins.

Bob McCartin Six Red Cup quarter finals: Belper Strutt Club 3, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1 4; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 2 4, Edgefold Matlock No 2 3; Tansley Potters 6, Bolehill Institute 1; Edgefold Matlock No 1 4, Matlock Golf Club 1.
Breaks (inc. comps): B Monk 28,23; I McKay 28; J Neville 23; D Smith 22; D Harwood 22; J Weller 21.

Billiards Captains Cup semi final: Mayfield Institute beat Tansley Potters.

IT PAYS TO BE AWAY AS LEAGUE POSITIONS TIGHTEN UP

GRAHAM JONES

IT WAS definitely a week to be on your travels in the T & M Motors Snooker League during the seventh round of fixtures with all the away teams recording successes and each one by the minimum margin, which has resulted in a general tightening of the league placings.
Matlock Golf Club were back in action for the first time in three weeks and hosted Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 3 with Les Mooney setting the ball rolling by taking the opener for the golfers.
Dale Shaw took a black ball victory in the next however to equalise and then Jack Lowe notched his fifth win in six games to give the Amber Valley cuemen the advantage.
Graham Jones struck back with his fifth straight league win for 2-2 but in the doubles the Lowes Jack and Ady secured a 72-43 success to take the glory.

Alfreton No 1 have clicked into gear in the last fortnight and defeated leaders Edgefold No 1 with Brian Fullard winning his second straight game since coming into the fold and which also secured a 3-0 lead before a late rally from the Matlock side instigated by Josh Lee.

Tansley Potters shocked hitherto unbeaten leaders and current champions Alfreton No 2 with the Nevilles, Radford and Joe taking their singles legs before Gray Astle and Steve Hawkins swooped to conquer in the doubles. Ben Monk (84pts) top scored for the vanquished.

Crich Comrades saw off Belper Strutt Club after a tight battle. Steve Bullock top scored for the hosts but Paul Trevett took each of his singles and doubles leg as he teamed up with Rob Mulliss in the decider to secure the victory.

And Edgefold No 2 were back to winning ways as they overcame Bolehill Institute with Roy Taylor, Giddy Gamble and Dal Abu Bakr all showing impressive form whilst Keith Robertson was triumphant in singles and doubles for the Wirksworth line-up.

League week 7 results: Matlock Golf Club 2, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 3 3; Edgefold Matlock No 1 2, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1 3; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 2 2, Tansley Potters 3; Belper Strutt Club 2, Crich Comrades 3; Bolehill Institute 2, Edgefold No 2 3.
Breaks (inc. competitions): R Slack 33,25,24; D Harwood 27,22; J Smith 25; K Robertson 23; D Abu-Bakr 21; P Trevett 20.

T & M Motors Snooker League        P        W       L       Pts 
Edgefold Matlock No 1                        7          3        4       19
Tansley Potters                                    7          5        2       18
Alfreton P Morewood No 3                  6          4        2       18 
Alfreton P Morewood No 2                  5          4        1       17
Matlock Golf Club                                5          3        2       15 
Bolehill Institute                                   7          2        5       15
Crich Comrades                                  6          3         3      14
Edgefold Matlock No 2                        7          3        4       14 
Belper Strutt Club                                6          2        4       13
Alfreton P Morewood No 1                  6          2        4       12
Leading breaks: S Donner 92, S Dobney 47.
Leading wins: G Jones 5/5; J Lowe 5/6; J Lee 4/5.