ALFRETON TRIO ALL WIN BUT EDGEFOLD 1 TURN UP HEAT

KEVIN ROWLAND...victorious reserve

WITH EDGEFOLD No1 taking maximum points for the second successive week, they now have a five point cushion in the early stages of the T & M Motors Snooker League but Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 3 kept up the chase with a hard-fought 3-2 home win over Clay Cross Brotherhood.
With both teams a man down on the night, one of those reserves took centre stage in the opener with Kevin Rowland moving over from the No2 team to play under the extra handicap and take a noteworthy 61-46 victory.
Ever-reliable stand-in Chris Parker equalised in the next before a thrilling third frame encounter was settled on the final black with Jack Lowe restoring Alfreton's advantage at 2-1.
Ady Lowe then made the game safe with an impressive 91-33 success before Graham Jones and Parker reduced the arrears in the concluding doubles leg.

The aforementioned Edgefold No1 held too much firepower for Crich Comrades on the night after Duncan Harwood had taken the opener on the black, the rest of the frames were not in doubt for the most part with Steve Burton top scoring.

The other Alfreton teams both scored 3-2 wins on their travels. The reigning champs of the No2 team are back in the winning groove for now with the heroes of the hour Andrew Beardsley and Jamie Rowland who won each of their singles legs before teaming up to take the deciding doubles contest at Tansley Potters. Steve Hawkins top scored for the hosts in a black ball success.

Alfreton No1 edged the verdict at Belper Royal British Legion with Des Smith taking each of his singles and doubles legs and Andrew Haggarty top scoring. Paul Jarrett amassed 81 points for the hosts.

The other games saw Bolehill Institute come from behind for a 3-2 win at Edgefold No 2, their first away league win in over a year after breaking thier travel duck in the six red cup recently.
Ricki Slack and Ian Birks took their singles and doubles legs whilst Rob Muxlow and Roy Taylor (on the black) registered for the Matlock cuemen.

In the Elliott Carpets Billiards League, the chasing pack were in action trying to make inroads into Tansley's lead and the best encounter saw Mayfield Institute take an 11-8 win from Whitworth Institute with the hosts' Jim McCann notching breaks of 56 and 31 and Keith Gregory weighing in with a run of 49.
Whitworth soon got back into winning ways though with a 14-7 defeat of Bolehill Institute to edge into second place in the table.

T & M Motors Snooker League week 04: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No3 3, Clay Cross Brotherhood 2; Crich Comrades 0, Edgefold Matlock No1 5; Tansley Potters 2, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 3; Belper Royal British Legion 2, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 3; Edgefold Matlock No2 2, Bolehill Institute 3.
Breaks: S Bullock 25; S Burton 24; R Slack 23.

Elliott Carpets Billiards League: Whitworth Institute 8, Mayfield Institute 11; Whitworth Institute 14, Bolehill Institute 7.
Breaks: J McCann 56,31; K Gregory 49.

T & M Motors Snooker League        P        W       L       Pts 
Edgefold Matlock No 1                        4         4         0      17
Alfreton P Morewood No 3                  4         3         1      12                   
Alfreton P Morewood No 1                  4         3         1      11
Alfreton P Morewood No 2                  4         2         2      11
Crich Comrades                                  4         2         2        9
Edgefold Matlock No 2                        4         2         2        9 
Clay Cross Brotherhood                      4         1         3        9 
Tansley Potters                                    4         1         3        9
Belper Royal British Legion                 4         1         3        7
Bolehill Institute                                   4         1         3        6
Leading breaks: R Mulliss 51, D Smith 49.
Leading wins: S Burton, A Lowe & D Harwood 4/4.

Elliott Carpets Billiards League       P     W      D       L     Pts
Tansley Potters                                   3       3       0       0      42
Whitworth Institute                              3       1       0       2      29
Mayfield Institute                                 3       2       0       1      28
Bolehill Institute                                   3       0       0       3      24
Leading breaks: J Neville 73, J McCann 56.
Leading wins: J Neville & S Hawkins 3/3.

TANSLEY TURN THE TABLES AS JOE HITS A STUNNING 73

JOE NEVILLE .... 73 break at three-ball game

IN A COMPLETE turnaround of fortunes from last season's Eliott Carpets Billiards League, Tansley Potters, who endured a tough run back then, have started in storming fashion this time around with three handsome victories putting them in pole position in the early standings.

Starting with a 14-7 home win over Whitworth, they followed up the next day with an excellent 14-5 defeat of Mayfield with Joe Neville compiling a superb run of 73 which gives perennial billiards ace Jim McCann, who last failed to take the high break in 1988, something to aim at.

Things got better again last up with a 14-8 success at last season's champs Bolehill Institute with Neville again amongst the breaks with 31 and Steve Hawkins notching 33.
Bolehill have yet to hit their stride as they also fell 12-9 to Mayfield in their opener with Keith Gregory in excellent touch.

Meanwhile, Edgefold No1 made it a hat-trick of wins in the T & M Motors Snooker League with a magnificent 5-0 defeat of fellow early high flyers Alfreton No1.
Sean Dobney was in great nick with runs of 36 and 33 and took his doubles leg with Duncan Harwood too whilst James Travis took the tightest contest of the evening 56-55.

Alfreton No2 had endured an unusually torrid start to the campaign but bounced back well with a 4-1 win at Bolehill Institute.
Kyle Ryde cleared with 22 to take the opener 66-31 before Ricki Slack levelled with a long black in the next but thereafter the vistors took control with Jamie Rowland's 34 break setting the tone before he later added the doubles leg too with Simon Mays.

Alfreton No3 saw off Belper British Legion 4-1 with Jack Lowe thrice successful, in singles, playing as reserve under the extra handicap and then in the pairs with Ady Lowe who also registered in his solo outing. Mark Newby took the sole win for the Legionnaires.

Edgefold No2 enjoyed an excellent 3-2 win at Tansley with Roy Taylor undefeated in singles and doubles whilst Radford Neville (27 break) top scored for the hosts.

Clay Cross Brotherhood defeated Crich 3-2 in the other match which featured a superb break of 51 from Rob Mulliss to add to Paul Trevett's opening salvo but Lee Hage and Duncan Waring won each of their singles legs and then combined for a convincing 70-26 doubles success to turn the game on its head.

T & M Motors Snooker League week 04: Edgefold Matlock No1 5, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 0; Bolehill Institute 1, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 4; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No3 4, Belper Royal British Legion 1; Tansley Potters 2, Edgefold Matlock No2 3; Clay Cross Brotherhood 3, Tansley Potters 2.
Breaks: R Mulliss 51; S Dobney 38,33; J Rowland 34; I McKay 30; R Neville 27; K Ryde 22.

Elliott Carpets Billiards League: Tansley Potters 14, Whitworth Institute 7; Bolehill Institute 9, Mayfield Institute 12; Tansley Potters 14, Mayfield Institute 5; Bolehill Institute 8, Tansley Potters 14.
Breaks: J Neville 73,31; S Hawkins 33.

T & M Motors Snooker League        P        W       L       Pts 
Edgefold Matlock No 1                        3         3         0      12
Alfreton P Morewood No 3                  3         2         1        9                   
Crich Comrades                                  3         2         1        9
Alfreton P Morewood No 1                  3         2         1        8
Alfreton P Morewood No 2                  3         1         2        8
Edgefold Matlock No 2                        3         2         1        7 
Clay Cross Brotherhood                      3         1         2        7 
Tansley Potters                                    3         1         2        7
Belper Royal British Legion                 3         1         2        5
Bolehill Institute                                   3          0        3        3
Leading breaks: R Mulliss 51, D Smith 49.
Leading wins: R Neville, M Newby, D Harwood, S Burton & A Lowe 3/3.

Elliott Carpets Billiards League       P     W      D       L     Pts
Tansley Potters                                   3       3       0       0      42
Mayfield Institute                                 2       1       0       1      17
Bolehill Institute                                   2       0       0       2      17
Whitworth Institute                              1        0       0       1       7
Leading breaks: J Neville 73, S Hawkins 33.
Leading wins: J Neville & S Hawkins 3/3.

BREAKS FLY AT CLAY CROSS AND KEITH BACK WITH A WIN

KEITH MANLOVE

THE Bob McCartin Six Red Cup took centre stage again in the latest round of T & M Motors Snooker League games and the breaks were flowing at Clay Cross Brotherhood for whom Lee Hage notched an excellent 41 in his singles and this was followed by the highest scotch doubles break so far of 35 from Graham Jones and partner Tony Blant as the hosts edged out Tansley Potters 4-3 in Group A.
The other match in that section saw the two defeated teams from the first stage lock horns and Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 3 emerged with an important 5-2 home win over Edgefold No 2 to give them a great chance of progressing further.
Keith Manlove took the opener 42-7 and Jack Lowe added a tight contest 33-21 before Jamie Wright with a decisive 40-10 success pulled one back for the visitors.
Ady Lowe soon made it 3-1 and then played his part in two doubles successes whilst Rob Muxlow and Roy Taylor registered the second point for the Matlock cuemen, who now likely need a decent result in their remaining game to remain involved.

In Group B, Edgefold No 2 saw off Alfreton No 2 5-2 to leave the holders from Amber Valley now relying on other results going their way to keep them in the hat for the quarter finals.
Tommy Smith made a fine winning debut as reserve to put the hosts 3-0 up after wins from Duncan Harwood and James Travis and though Jamie Rowland pulled one back and also registered in the scotch doubles with father Kevin, the other doubles legs went to the Matlock side.

Group C saw a re-run of the previous week's league's clash when Alfreton No1 whitewashed Bolehill Institute but this time around it was a much closer affair.
Andrew Haggarty played first shot on a re-spotted black in the opener and inadvertently doubled it straight into the middle pocket for a great start for the hosts but then Ricki Slack equalised by taking the last three balls in the next.
Simon Zoppi put the visitors 2-1 up but John Smith squared things up with his own re-spotted black victory.
The early scotch doubles were shared until in the decider, Ian Birks and Zoppi had remembered their travel sickness pills and sealed Bolehill's first away win since April 2021 no less.
Bob McCartin Six Red Cup results: Group A: Clay Cross Brotherhood 4, Tansley Potters 3; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 5, Edgefold Matlock No2 2. Group B: Edgefold Matlock No1 5, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 2. Group C: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 3, Bolehill Institute 4.
Breaks: L Hage 41; G Jones / T Blant 35 (scotch dbls); J Lowe 25; R Slack / I Birks 23 (scotch dbls).

Bob McCartin Six Red Cup Qualifying Stage

Group A                              P         W         L         Pts
Clay Cross Brotherhood     2          2           0           9
Alfreton P Morewood No3  2          1           1           8
Tansley Potters                   2          1           1           7
Edgefold Matlock No2        2          0           2           4

Group B                              P         W          L         Pts
Belper RBL                         1          1           0           5
Edgefold Matlock No1        1          1           0           5
Alfreton P Morewood No2  2          0           2           4

Group C                              P         W          L         Pts
Alfreton P Morewood No1   2          1           1           8
Bolehill Institute                   1          1           0           4
Crich Comrades                  1          0           1           2

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

EDGEFOLD STAGE COMEBACK AND DES HITS 49 BREAK

DES SMITH ... 49 break

EDGEFOLD No1 staged the comeback of the week as they came from 0-2 down to secure a 3-2 home win over Clay Cross Brotherhood for their second straight win in the T & M Motors Snooker League.
Chris Parker gave the visitors an early lead with a 63-50 success before Tony Blant added the next 62-29 on his seasonal debut after returning from holiday.
Steve Burton, well known as a Derbyshire pool ace, showed he is no back number at the larger table game as his 30 break reduced the deficit to 2-1 courtesy of a 62-16 scoreline and it was soon level when Duncan Harwood took the next 71-49.
And in a tense doubles encounter, Burton and Harwood emerged triumphant in the battle of the singles winners doubling up with a 45-36 verdict doing the trick.

That win was not quite enough to hit the top spot though as Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 usurped them with a barnstorming 5-0 win over Bolehill Institute.
Des Smith was the star of the show with a fantastic break of 49 before his full length double rattled agonisingly in the jaws of the corner pocket as he tried for a much deserved half century.
Andrew Haggarty was also in great nick in the opener with a 78-17 success, all of which was illuminated on a brand new electronic scoreboard.

Grand Slam winners Alfreton No2 still await their first win as they went down 3-2 to Alfreton No3.
Ben Monk snatched the opener on the black but wins for Jack and Ady Lowe and another black ball decider from Carlos Zaragoza ensured the eventual result.

Crich Comrades earned their second straight win with a 4-1 home defeat of Edgefold No2. Rob Mulliss top scored and Nick Berry took his second black ball win in as many weeks while Roy Taylor and Rob Muxlow had to wait until the concluding doubles leg to find a response for the visitors.

Tansley Potters took an excellent 4-1 win from Belper Royal British Legion with Radford Neville running in breaks of 37 and 20 whilst Mark Newby was on target for the hosts.

T & M Motors Snooker League week 2 results: Edgefold No1 3, Clay Cross Brotherhood 2; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 5, Bolehill Institute 0; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No3 3, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 2; Crich Comrades 4, Edgefold Matlock No2 1; Belper Royal British Legion 1, Tansley Potters 4.
Breaks: D Smith 49; R Neville 37,20; S Burton 30; B Monk 28.

ADE RAISES THE ROOF WITH FANTASTIC RE-SPOT POT

ADE SMITH ... sparked celebrations

THE OPENING round of matches in the T & M Motors Snooker League saw the reverse fixture of last season's starter as Bolehill Institute, who were inactive in the six red cup last week, entertained Crich Comrades.
After a ding dong battle Colin Marchington took black to secure first blood for the hosts after opponent Phil Leverton had threatened to spoil the party, taking blue and pink before rattling the decisive ball.
Ricki Slack made it 2-0 as he took blue from long range and then pink to prevail 67-53 before what proved a pivotal cliff-hanger saw Nick Berry give his side a foothold in the game, taking another deciding black for a hard fought 42-35 success.
Ade Smith was in rampant form with an 80-33 verdict  in the fourth frame to make it 2-2 and then also proved the star turn in the deciding doubles leg as he snicked in a long black to force a re-spot for the frame and after some prolonged jousting, slammed home a stunning winner into the baulk pocket from distance to the cheers of the well-lubricated Tramwaymen.

Edgefold No1 head the table after week one with a 4-1 defeat of Tansley Potters seeing to that. Sean Dobney and Radford Neville were each on target for their respective teams early doors but wins for Duncan Harwood in each of his singles and doubles legs eventually gave his side a comfortable margin with Steve Burton also registering.

Last season's champs and Grand Slam winners Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 are still looking a little rusty, and they fell 3-2 to their No1 team despite breaks of 33 from Ben Monk and Kyle Ryde.
Phil Longden, who amassed 93 points in his singles frame, and Andrew Haggarty were undefeated in each of their singles and doubles legs on a memorable night for them.

Alfreton No3 were edged out 3-2 at Edgefold No2 with Rob Muxlow and Roy Taylor twice on target in singles and pairs formats whilst Alex Fisher and Ady Lowe won black-ballers for the visitors.

And Belper Royal British Legion continued their positive start with a 3-2 win at newcomers Clay Cross Brotherhood as Mark Newby and Wayne Shooter emerged  triumphant from the deciding doubles leg after Duncan Waring, one time team-mate of Nigel Bond, had levelled on his Darley Dale League debut to make it 2-2.

T & M Motors Snooker League week 01 results: Bolehill Institute 2, Crich Comrades 3; Tansley Potters 1, Edgefold Matlock No1 4; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 2, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 3; Edgefold Matlock No2 3, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No3 2; Clay Cross Brotherhood 2, Belper Royal British Legion 3.
Breaks: B Monk 33; K Ryde 33; D Harwood 22; R Slack 21.

BELPER CONTINUE TO SHOW THAT SIX RED SPARKLE

WAYNE SHOOTER was quickly into his stride

THE T & M MOTORS SNOOKER LEAGUE started with the Bob McCartin Six Red Cup group matches and there was a big opening week clash as Grand Slam winners and current holders Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 entertained the five-times winning team from Belper, now playing from the British Legion, formerly of the Strutt Club.
Wayne Shooter was first into his stride for the visitors as he took the opener 40-15 and when Mark Newby and Steve Bullock added the next two frames 32-22 and 42-32 respectively, the Legionnaires were already standing on the cusp of a memorable victory.
A black ball verdict for Justin Weller provided the decisive blow, and keen to rack up the points, Newby and Shooter combined soon afterwards to make it an incredible lead of 5-0.
Ben Monk and Jamie Rowland's run of 33 in the scotch doubles earned a much needed first win on the night for the Amber Valley cuemen and in a ding-dong battle in the final frame, the home team secured a 39-38 verdict through Kyle Ryde and Andrew Beardsley to earn what could yet be a crucial second point in the qualification stages.

Another team off to a flyer were Tansley Potters, last season's league runners-up, who stormed 4-1 ahead in their home group match with Alfreton No3.
Steve Hawkins was first on the board before newcomer Carlos Zaragoza equalised but with Joe Neville and Gray Astle each successful, the home side were well in the ascendancy.
The two Nevilles added the next before the Jack Lowe / Alex Fisher and Ady Lowe / Zaragoza combinations fought back strongly to reduce the final score to 4-3.

There was success for Alfreton No1 however as they took a 5-2 win from Crich Comrades. Andrew Haggarty and Phil Longden were undefeated in their singles and doubles legs whilst Rob Mulliss achieved the same feat for the Tramwaymen. Des Smith's black ball success in frame two was also pivotal.

Bob McCartin Six Red Cup Group A: Tansley Potters 4, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No3 3; Group B: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 2, Belper Royal British Legion 5; Group C: Crich Comrades 2, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 5.
Breaks: Ben Monk / Jamie Rowland 33 (scotch doubles).

ALFRETON PM No2 ACCOMPLISH THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM

ALFRETON PALMER MOREWOOD No2  Grand Slam quadruple winners 2022/23:
L-R: Ant McMahon, Steve Donner, Jamie Rowland, Andrew Beardsley, Ben Monk, Kyle Ryde and Kevin Rowland.

ALFRETON PALMER MOREWOOD No2 became the first team ever to win the quadruple grand slam of team events since the modern schedule has been in place thanks to their 3-1 defeat of Matlock Golf Club in the Jaeger Trophy play-off final at Bolehill Institute.
Having done the treble last season, that is seven out of the last eight trophies going Amber Valley way as they added the Bob McCartin Six Red Cup to the aforementioned prize, the T & M Motors League Championship for the Hartshorne Cup, and also the Captains Cup points aggregate competition.

SIMON
MAYS

Andrew Beardsley has certainly been a big factor in the record-breakers' impressive haul with some high winning percentages over this period and he took the opener 66-26 with some solid potting and matchplay.
It was soon level, however, as Ian McKay produced one of his best displays of the season to take the second frame 77-50 and leave all to play for.
Most-winning player Graham Jones was up next for the golfers but could never find his rhythm this time around and Ant McMahon got the better of a scrappy frame to take it 55-16 and re-assert the league champions' lead.

And after a titanic battle in a fourth frame that lasted a full hour, with fortunes swinging to and fro, Simon Mays pulled out spectacular pots on green and brown before a miscue on the pink by his opponent eventually decided the issue in cruel fashion.
It is Alfreton's fourth win in the Jaeger Trophy play-offs having first won it in the 2014/15 season when the top eight qualified and they actually finished seventh!

EDGEFOLD No2 Jimmy Harper Plate
winners 2022/23:
L-R: Steve Burton, Rob Muxlow, Ryan Spencer,
Roy Taylor and Jamie Wright.

Also taking place was the Jimmy Harper Plate final (team consolation aggregate points event) for those departing in the early rounds of the Captains Cup.
Edgefold No2 won the toss for venue against opponents Tansley Potters, and confirmed their improved showing of late with a 325-217 win over the league runners-up.
Roy Taylor got things rolling in the opener with a 79-51 verdict and when Robert Muxlow and Steve Burton also added to that tally with 62-36 and 69-25 scorelines respectively, the writing appeared to be on the wall with an overall lead of 98.
Gray Astle pulled a little of that back as he took the next 67-45 but that still left a mammoth task for his team in the concluding doubles leg to come.
Steve Burton's run of 24 pretty much sealed the deal although Joe Neville quickly hit back with 21 but eventually Burton and Taylor ran out victors 70-38 to rubber-stamp the prize.

Only the Denis Morton Trophy (pairs handicap) final remains to be played and will be delayed until June as neither party could fix up a date in the regular season due to other commitments and shift work.

Also congratulations to Elliott Carpets Billiards League stalwart Jim McCann of Whitworth Institute who finished as a very creditable runner-up in the Jock McGregor handicap event organised by the EABA at Derby recently.

Jaeger Trophy (top four play offs) final: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 3, Matlock Golf Club 1 (at Bolehill Institute): 66-26; 50-77; 55-16; 78-58.
Jimmy Harper Plate (team aggregate consolation) final: Edgefold Matlock No 2 325, Tansley Potters 217: 79-51; 62-36; 69-25; 45-67; 70(24)-38(21).