ALFRETON COME OUT ON TOP IN CLASH OF THE TITANS

JIM McCANN ... run of 73 in the three ball game

THE CAPTAINS CUP Team Aggregate knockout competition started with a blockbuster clash between current league leaders Edgefold No1 and last season's quadruple winners Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 with the latter team hosting on Hall Street.
Ant McMahon, making one of his occasional appearances, was in barnstorming form for the Amber Valley cuemen in the opener and scored a magnificent 87-43 success to give his team the best possible start.
Sean Dobney scored a 61-54 success in the next but with Simon Mays edging a very tight frame three by two points, the advantage was still very much with the host team.
A 48-47 verdict for Andrew Beardsley had Alfreton still in pole position for the final doubles leg with a 40-points lead and the two Rowlands, Jamie (32 break) and Kevin cemented the win with a 65-20 success, the overall scores being 302 to 242.

Alfreton No2 also moved into the next round as they defeated Tansley Potters 326-241.
Des Smith scored a 50-pts victory in the opening frame which put them well on their way and a 57-54 Andrew Haggarty win kept them in the ascendency.
Phil Longden got the better of a very high scoring encounter in the next as he triumphed 87-77 before Steve Hawkins finally made some inroads to the deficit with an impressive 65-27 decision.
But ultimately the two Smiths, Des and John steadied the ship in the final doubles leg with a 54-19 victory.

In the competitions, Lee Hage and Ricki Slack were back amongst the high breaks with runs of 58 and 40 respectively as both progressed to the quarter finals of the OMYA Cup.

In the Elliott Carpets Billiards League, Bolehill Institute edged past Whitworth Institute 12-11 despite Jim McCann equalling the league's highest break with 73, whilst Mayfield Institute made some inroads on league leaders Tansley Potters with a 14-10 success, Keith Gregory triumphing by a single point.

Captains Cup (Team Aggregate) first round: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 302, Edgefold Matlock No1 242; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 326, Tansley Potters 241.
Breaks (inc. comps); L Hage 58; R Slack 40; J Rowland 32; S Brooks 32.

Elliott Carpets Billiards League: Whitworth Institute 11, Bolehill Institute 12; Mayfield Institute 14, Tansley Potters 10.
Breaks: J McCann 73.

Elliott Carpets Billiards League       P     W      D       L     Pts
Tansley Potters                                   7       3       1       3      83
Mayfield Institute                                 7       5       0       2      77
Bolehill Institute                                   7       4       0       3      72
Whitworth Institute                               7       1       1       5      66
Leading breaks: J Neville & J McCann 73.
Leading wins: J Neville 6/7, K Gregory 5/7.

EDGEFOLD No1 & ALFRETON No1 TO MEET IN 6-RED FINAL

PHIL LONGDEN ... vital scotch doubles win

EDGEFOLD No1 and ALFRETON PALMER MOREWOOD No1 will contest the Bob McCartin Six Red Cup final in a few weeks time as they came through tough semi final tests against Bolehill Institute and Belper Royal British Legion respectively.
Edgefold, the league leaders, travelled to bottom placed Bolehill but Colin Marchington put up stiff resistance for the hosts in the opener and seemed to have the edge over Scott Brooks as he led by 14pts with just pink and black remaining.
But a well judged snooker saw Marchington inadvertently squeeze through a narrow gap between object ball and cushion with his attempted swerve to concede the foul and Brooks did the rest with excellent pots on the remaining balls to snatch an unlikely victory.
Ricki Slack levelled in the next but Duncan Harwood took pink and black in the third frame in another final ball thriller and then James Travis potted a great pink to make it 3-1 soon afterwards.
Once again Bolehill held the slight ascendency in the first of the scotch doubles but again it was turned on its head after a few rattled pockets on the pink, the Matlock pairing sealed the game as Harwood snicked a fine cut into the centre pocket and then Steve Burton sank the match winning black.
Simon Zoppi and Ian Birks took an academic sixth leg with a run of 22 to leave a final score of 4-2.

Des Smith had Alfreton off to a flyer as they hosted six red specialists Belper with a 49-11 win before Paul Jarrett levelled with a 43-25 verdict.
Steve Bullock put the visitors 2-1 up but it was soon level again with John Smith replying with aplomb.
Andrew Haggarty and Phil Longden secured the vital first scotch doubles leg in emphatic fashion 39-3 and the game was safe with Des and John Smith securing a hard fought sixth frame.
Belper took the dead rubber in the final scotch doubles leg to leave the score at 4-3.

Justin Weller notched an excellent run of 45 in the Open Individual Handicap competition as he progressed to the third round and also saw off Sean Dobney in the OMYA Cup second round despite the latter's excellent 47 break.
Martin Byard of Crich had runs of 39,31 and 25 as he also progressed in the latter competition.
Bob McCartin Six Red Cup, semi finals: Bolehill Institute 2, Edgefold Matlock No1 4; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 4, Belper Royal British Legion 3.
Breaks (inc. comps): S Dobney 47; J Weller 45,22; S Burton 39; Martin Byard 39,31,25; S Zoppi / I Birks 22 (scotch doubles).

NEW WINNERS ALL THE WAY IN CHRISTMAS SHOOTOUT

JOHN SMITH.... 2023 Christmas champ

THE ANNUAL CHRISTMAS SHOOTOUT NIGHT at Matlock's Edgefold Club attracted 23 entries, only one short of the all-time highest turnout, and ended up being a memorable one with all three trophies  going to first time winners and the presentation concluding well into the witching hour.
Sean Dobney put up a stiff resistance in his bid to retain the Alan Hopkinson Trophy (6 reds individual handicap) on home baize, and fought back from the snooker required stage on pink and black to edge past Scott Brooks in his opener before wins against Ricki Slack, Jack Lowe and Jamie Wright saw him contesting another final.
His opponent was John Smith, of Alfreton Palmer Morewood, taking part in his maiden league final after beating brother Des, Rob Mulliss and nephew Cole to make it there.
Cole Smith, son of Des, was the youngest player there and for him it was a great achievement to reach the semi final on his Christmas competition debut, one to look out for in the near future.
The final itself was a closely fought battle and after the Alfreton cueman had gone close by rattling what would have been a match winning pink, he made no mistake second time around when the chance presented itself to enhance Alfreton's impressive record of honours at the event.

SCOTT BROOKS...speed king

Often it has been their very own Andrew Haggarty lifting the Eddie Lomas Trophy (speed snooker handicap) and he put up a brave bid to register a fifth win as he sailed into the final once more in defeating Roy Taylor Steve Bullock and James Travis but found himself against the up-and-coming Scott Brooks, who has recently converted from the game of pool and made a very promising start for his Edgefold team.

Brooks came through against Ben Christon, father Martin Barwick, Jack Lowe and Trevor Wright to contest the big one and in a grandstand finish, he just got the black away in the nick of the time with Haggarty homing in on it himself a matter of seconds away in a real thriller.

PHIL LEVERTON and MARTIN BARWICK, pairs champs

And it was like father like son as Martin Barwick, ex Matlock Cons Club, who now frequents the Edgefold, teamed up with Crich Comrades' Phil Leverton to combine superbly and make it a hat trick of first time winners as they took the George Mills Trophy for the scotch doubles handicap event.
Victories over Des and Cole Smith, Dobney and Christon, and then Bullock and Travis saw them into the final against Ricki Slack of Bolehill and youngster Tommy Smith of Edgefold.
Smith potted some fine balls in their run to the final to show himself to be another great prospect and which also saw them come through against John Smith and Sam Kniveton and afterwards Brooks and Rob Mulliss.
The final itself featured some bizarre flukes, mostly in favour of the vanquished it has to be said, but when the chips were down, great mid to long range pots on blue and pink saw Barwick and Leverton over the line for a deserved success.

Elsewhere, Ben Monk had runs of 32 and 30 as he progressed to the quarter final of the OMYA Cup whilst, in the Billiards Captains Cup semi final, Whitworth Institute came through 300-246 against league leaders Tansley Potters.

Alan Hopkinson Trophy (six reds individual handicap), winner John Smith (Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1); runner-up, Sean Dobney (Edgefold No1).
Eddie Lomas Trophy (speed snooker, clearing the colours, handicap), winner, Scott Brooks (Edgefold No1); runner-up, Andrew Haggarty (Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1).
George Mills Trophy (six reds scotch doubles handicap), winners, Martin Barwick (ex-Matlock Cons / Edgefold) and Phil Leverton (Crich Comrades); runners-up, Ricki Slack (Bolehill Institute) and Tommy Smith (Edgefold No2).
Breaks (inc. comps): B Monk 32,30; R Slack / T Smith (scotch doubles) 23.

Billiards Captains Cup  semi final: Whitworth Institute 300, Tansley Potters 246.

UPDATED DRAWS FOR SECOND ROUND (JANUARY)

 BOB McCARTIN SIX RED TEAM CUP Semi Finals
Best of 7 Frames - 7.30pm
Four singles and three scotch doubles frames (use six red handicaps
(N.B. Players cannot transfer from other teams in semi finals or finals)
Tue Jan 02: Bolehill Institute v Edgefold Matlock No1
Tue Jan 02: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 v Belper Royal British Legion

OMYA CUP (Individual Scratch) Second Round
Best of 5 Frames - No handicaps - 7.30pm (w/c January 1st)

Tue Dec 19: Ben Monk (Alfreton PM 2) v Joe Neville (Tansley)

Tue Jan 02: Sam Kniveton (Edgefold 2) v Rob Mulliss (Crich Coms)

Tue Jan 02: Ade Smith (Crich Coms) v Phil Leverton (Crich Coms)

Wed Jan 03: Steve Burton (Edgefold 1) v Jack Lowe (Alfreton PM 3)

Wed Jan 03: Justin Weller (Belper Strutt) v Sean Dobney (Edgefold 1)

Wed Jan 03: Martin Byard (Crich Coms) v Scott Brooks (Edgefold 1)

Mon Jan 08: Ricki Slack (Bolehill Inst) v Rob Muxlow (Edgefold 2)

Tue Jan 09: Lee Hage (Clay Cross Brth) v Nick Berry (Crich Coms)

CAPTAINS CUP (Team Aggregate) First Round

5 Frames - Overall Points Aggregate To Count

Mon Jan 08: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 v Edgefold Matlock No1

Tue Jan 09: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 v Tansley Potters

See second round for other entries who have received a bye.

OPEN INDIVIDUAL HANDICAP Second Round
Best of 5 Frames - Normal League Handicaps apply - 7.30pm

Sun Jan 07: John Smith (Alfreton PM 1) 0 v Paul Trevett (Crich Coms) 0

Sun Jan 07: Duncan Harwood (Edgefold 1) +5 v Justin Weller (Strutt) -15

Mon Jan 08: Jamie Wright (Edgefold 2) +10 v Lee Hage (Clay Cross Brth) -20
Wed Jan 10: Scott Brooks (Edgefold 1) -10 v Andrew Haggarty (Alfreton 1) +5

Sun Jan 14: Ben Monk (Alfreton PM 2) -35 v Roy Taylor (Edgefold 2) +5

Sun Jan 14: Rob Muxlow (Edgefold 2) 0 v James Travis (Edgefold 1) +10

Tue Jan 16: Ricki Slack (Bolehill Inst) -20 v Steve Burton (Edgefold 1) -10

Wed Jan 17: Sean Dobney or Nick Berry v Ade Smith (Crich Coms) +15

"B" (INTERMEDIATE) INDIVIDUAL HANDICAP Second Round
Best of 5 Frames - Normal League Handicaps apply - 7.30pm

Thu Jan 04: Andrew Haggarty (Alfreton PM 1) +5 v Joe Neville (Tansley) -5

Tue Jan 09: Duncan Harwood (Edgefold 1) +5 v Paul Trevett (Crich Coms) 0

Tue Jan 16: Nick Berry (Crich Coms) 0 v Roy Taylor (Edgefold 2) +5

Wed Jan 17: Jamie Wright (Edgefold 2) +10 v Phil Leverton (Crich Coms) +15

Thu Jan 18:  Ade Smith (Crich Coms) +15 v Scott Brooks (Edgefold 1) -10

Sun Jan 21: John Smith (Alfreton PM 1)  0 v Martin Byard (Crich Coms) 0

Sun Jan 21: Rob Muxlow (Edgefold 2) 0 v Jack Lowe (Alfreton PM 3) +5

Tue Jan 23: Ian Doe (Bolehill Inst) -5 v James Travis (Edgefold) +10

SEMI-FINAL LINE-UPS OF SIX RED CUP ARE NOW KNOWN

STEVE BULLOCK ... pivotal win

BELPER ROYAL BRITISH LEGION featuring the old Strutt Club players moved into yet another semi final in their favourite competition which honours their former team-mate Bob McCartin with a 4-2 home victory over Tansley Potters in the six red knockout stages.
Mark Newby took the opener 44-22 before Radford Neville quickly levelled with a 43-12 triumph.
Gray Astle then gave the visitors the lead with a 39-12 verdict in frame three but a pivotal black ball win from Steve Bullock once again had the teams deadlocked.
From there on, the Legionnaires bossed the scotch doubles contests with Bullock teaming up with Wayne Shooter to edge his side ahead and Newby joining forces with Paul Jarrett to engineer the decisive blows in a 53-37 success.

They now travel to Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 who scored an excellent 5-2 win at Clay Cross Brotherhood, putting the game to bed in the first four singles contests.
Andrew Haggarty, Phil Longden plus Des and John Smith were all successful one after the other to render the scotch doubles stages academic.

Bolehill Institute fell behind in their home clash with Edgefold No2 when Roy Taylor potted a storming long pink in the first to come down and gain perfect position on the black which he duly took.
But from thereon, the home side found their mojo and Ricki Slack (24 break) and Simon Zoppi nudged the Wirksworth side ahead with strong performances.
Ian Birks made it 3-1 soon after and then Slack teamed up with Colin Marchington to put the game beyond the visitors.

League leaders Edgefold No1 now travel to Bolehill after a 5-2 win at Alfreton No 3.
Sean Dobney struck first aided by a 22 clearance before two black ballers were shared with Jack Lowe and Steve Burton each victorious.
Scott Brooks took another tight game in the next to make it 3-1 with some of the escapes from snookers top drawer in tit-for-tat duels before Dobney teamed up with James Travis to seal the deal with a run of 27 in the first of the scotch doubles.

Ricki Slack rolled back the years in the Denis Morton Pairs Handicap Trophy first round with a run of 57 as he and Ian Birks moved into the next stages.

In the Billiards Captains Cup semi final, Mayfield Institute defeated Bolehill Institute 293-266 with Keith Gregory coming from way adrift to put his side into the ascendancy.
There was a barnstorming finish to the Williams Cup singles match between Mark Jennings and Jim McCann when despite a break of 64, the latter fell just short of the winning post with Jennings edging over the line in a grandstand finish.

Bob McCartin Six Red Cup quarter finals: Belper Royal British Legion 4, Tansley Potters 2; Clay Cross Brotherhood 2, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 5; Bolehill Institute 6, Edgefold Matlock No2 1; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No3 2, Edgefold Matlock No1 5.
Breaks (inc. comps): R Slack 57,24; R Muxlow 32; S Zoppi / I Birks 28 (scotch doubles);  S Dobney / J Travis 27 (scotch doubles); S Burton / S Brooks 25 (scotch doubles); S Dobney 22.

Billiards Captains Cup semi final: Mayfield Institute 293, Bolehill Institute 266.
Breaks (inc. comps): J McCann 64.

EDGEFOLD No1 STAND STRONG TO MAINTAIN ADVANTAGE

JAMES TRAVIS

EDGEFOLD No1 maintained their eight point advantage at the top of the T & M Motors Snooker League with a hard fought 3-2 success at Belper Royal British Legion.
Scott Brooks (21 break) emphatically took the opener 88-7 but there was a setback when Steve Burton tasted his first defeat of the season, going down 74-17 to a barnstorming Mark Newby display.
Sean Dobney nudged the visitors back in front as he took the next 66-31 and James Travis sealed the deal in frame four with a 59-35 success.
Wayne Shooter and Steve Bullock took the doubles leg on the deciding black to reduce the deficit to the minimum margin.

Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 who were lying second prior to this week's programme, fell 4-1 at Edgefold No2 where Tommy Smith top scored for the hosts and Roy Taylor (29 break) was successful in both singles and doubles.
Andrew Haggarty registered the sole reply for the visitors who were short handed on the night.

They are replaced in a game of musical chairs by the other two Alfreton teams who now lie joint second. The No 2 team took a 3-2 victory from Crich Comrades with Ben Monk firing in breaks of 28, 24, 23 and 22, firstly taking his singles leg and finally adding the deciding doubles leg with Kevin Rowland.
Rob Mulliss (27 break) and Ade Smith were successful for the Tramwaymen.

Alfreton No 3 added to the woes of Bolehill Institute, who fell to their second 5-0 defeat of the season on Hall Street with Ady Lowe (32 break) and Jack Lowe successful in each of their singles and doubles, romping home 73-1 in the latter contest to move back up into a challenging position.

With the only other scheduled game cancelled, the other action came in the individual competions with the highest breaks coming from Steve Burton (48) and Lee Hage (46) en route to their first round victories while Ricki Slack and Paul Trevett each came from 2-0 down to progress 3-2.

T & M Motors Snooker League week 07: Belper Royal British Legion 2, Edgefold Matlock No1 3; Edgefold Matlock No2 4, Alftreton Palmer Morewood No1 1; Crich Comrades 2, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 3; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No3 5, Bolehill Institute 0; Tansley Potters v Clay Cross Brotherhood postponed.
Breaks (inc. comps): S Burton 48; L Hage 46; R Slack 32,29; A Lowe 32; R Taylor 29; B Monk 28,24,2322; R Mulliss 27; S Dobney 24,24; S Brooks 21.

T & M Motors Snooker League        P        W        L      Pts 
Edgefold Matlock No 1                        7         7         0      28
Alfreton P Morewood No 2                  7         4         3      20
Alfreton P Morewood No 3                  7         4         3      20                   
Alfreton P Morewood No 1                  7         5         2      18
Edgefold Matlock No 2                        7         4         3      18 
Crich Comrades                                  7         3         4      17
Clay Cross Brotherhood                      6         2         4      14 
Tansley Potters                                    6         2         4      14
Belper Royal British Legion                 7         2         5      13
Bolehill Institute                                   7         1         6        8
Leading breaks: R Mulliss 51, D Smith 49.
Leading wins: D Harwood 6/6; S Burton & A Lowe 5/6.

Elliott Carpets Billiards League       P     W      D       L     Pts
Tansley Potters                                   6       3       1       2      73
Mayfield Institute                                 6       4       0       2      63
Bolehill Institute                                   6       3       0       3      60
Whitworth Institute                               6       1       1       4      55
Leading breaks: J Neville 73, J McCann 56.
Leading wins: J Neville 6/6, K Gregory 4/6.

ALFRETON No1 MOVE SECOND WITH A QUICKFIRE DOUBLE

JOHN SMITH ... brace of wins

ALFRETON PALMER MOREWOOD No1 enjoyed a fruitful week with two victories taking them into second place in the T & M Motors Snooker League although Edgefold No1 remain eight points clear after half a dozen games.
First up Alfreton travelled to Tansley Potters and Des Smith edged a tight opener before Radford Neville (29 break) levelled. Phil Longden nudged the visitors back in front with a 62-36 win and John Smith secured the victory in the next before the home side took the concluding doubles.
The following day Alfreton No1 played their re-arranged fixture with Alfreton No3 and again took the spoils by the minimum margin of 3-2.
Des Smith and Andrew Haggarty soon had them two to the good and despite Ady Lowe's riposte in the next, it was again John Smith who put the game to bed before the Lowes, Ady and Jack took a closely fought doubles encounter at the end.

Alfreton No3 had succumbed 4-1 at Crich Comrades the previous night with Rob Mulliss (30 and 24 breaks) and then Martin Byard each in fine form for the Tramwaymen after Jack Lowe had levelled early doors.

Alfreton No2 move into third after a 4-1 defeat of Clay Cross Brotherhood. Ben Monk had breaks of 24 and 23 (twice) in winning both his singles and doubles legs after the returning Andrew Beardsley had gotten them off to a flyer. Tony Blant was the sole victor for the visitors with a black ball verdict.

Edgefold No1 dished up more of the same as they saw off Bolehill Institute 4-1 with Scott Brooks (25 break), Steve Burton (on the black) and Duncan Harwood doing the damage in the early frames before Ian Birks took the only point for the hosts after potting pink and deciding black.

And there was an excellent win for Edgefold No2 who saw off Belper Royal British Legion 4-1. Tommy Smith put them into the ascendancy in the opener and Rob Muxlow soon capitalised before eventually Roy Taylor struck the winning balls. Mark Newby was on target for the Legionnaires.

In the OMYA Cup individual scratch event, a thrilling contest saw Lee Hage defeat Duncan Waring 3-2 in an all Clay Cross clash, with superb breaks of 62,56 and 36 in the three frames won.

The Elliott Carpet Billiards League saw Mayfield Institute gain maximum points from a 14-9 success over Whitworth Institute with Keith Gregory notching a run of 30.

They close the gap on leaders Tansley Potters who fell 12-9 at home to Bolehill Institute despite breaks of 34 and 33 from Steve Hawkins and Joe Neville respectively but still hold a lead of ten points.

T & M Motors Snooker League week 06: Tansley Potters 2, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 3; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 3, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No3 2; Crich Comrades 4, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No3 1; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 4, Clay Cross Brotherhood 1; Bolehill Institute 1, Edgefold Matlock No1 4; Edgefold Matlock No2 4, Belper Royal British Legion 1.
Breaks (inc. comps): L Hage 62,56,36; B Monk 34,23,23; R Mulliss 30,24; R Slack 30; R Neville 29; S Brooks 25,23.

Elliott Carpets Billiards League week 06: Mayfield Institute 14, Whitworth Institute 9; Tansley Potters 9, Bolehill Institute 12.
Breaks: S Hawkins 34, J Neville 33, K Gregory 30.

T & M Motors Snooker League        P        W        L      Pts 
Edgefold Matlock No 1                        6         6         0      25
Alfreton P Morewood No 1                  6         5         1      17
Alfreton P Morewood No 2                  6         3         3      17
Alfreton P Morewood No 3                  6         3         3      15                   
Crich Comrades                                  6         3         3      15
Edgefold Matlock No 2                        6         3         3      14 
Clay Cross Brotherhood                      6         2         4      14 
Tansley Potters                                    6         2         4      14
Belper Royal British Legion                 6         2         4      11
Bolehill Institute                                   6         1         5        8
Leading breaks: R Mulliss 51, D Smith 49.
Leading wins: S Burton & D Harwood 6/6; A Lowe 5/6.

Elliott Carpets Billiards League       P     W      D       L     Pts
Tansley Potters                                   6       3       1       2      73
Mayfield Institute                                 6       4       0       2      63
Bolehill Institute                                   6       3       0       3      60
Whitworth Institute                               6       1       1       4      55
Leading breaks: J Neville 73, J McCann 56.
Leading wins: J Neville 6/6, K Gregory 4/6.