STRUTT No 1 NARROW GAP AFTER MAXIMUM POINTS HAUL

PAUL JARRETT made it five wins out of five personally for BELPER STRUTT CLUB No 1.

THE gap between the teams at the top of the Highfields Farm Butchers Premier Division closed to just a single point this week as Belper Strutt Club No 1 played host to Bolehill Institute No 2 and scored a 5-0 success.
There was no initial sign that it was going to be anything other than a very tough game early doors as Ian Cresswell forced home team captain Steve Bullock to a re-spotted black but once the latter took it, the floodgates opened.

Paul Jarrett maintained his unbeaten run this season with a narrow victory in frame two and then Wayne Shooter and Mark Newby quickly added two more rather more convincingly.

With black nestling over the pocket in the concluding doubles frame, if Cresswell's double on pink  had struck gold there would have been some consolation for the visitors but unfortunately for him it narrowly missed the target and eventually Strutt secured the maximum haul.

Bolehill No 1 hold on to a tenuous advantage at the top after winning 3-2 at Matlock's Edgefold Club, though this will most likely soon change as they have a week off upcoming.

Ricki Slack took the first on the pink against Duncan Harwood thanks to a twice-across double after a very tight battle that was in the balance throughout.

Then Martyn Taylor produced one of the frames of the season to equalise, notching breaks of 50, 33 and 24 to score a century points haul before Colin Marchington (with a black ball success) and Ian Birks restored the advantage.

Taylor and Rob Muxlow (24 break) reduced the arrears thereafter in the doubles.

League week 6 results: Belper Strutt No 1 5, Bolehill Inst No 2 0; Edgefold Matlock 2, Bolehill Inst No 1 3; Matlock Cons v Belper Strutt No 2 postponed (match claimed 5-0 due to less than the stipulated 24hrs notice being given, as in rule 31, upheld by majority verdict of the disputes committee).

Breaks: M Taylor 50,33,24; R Muxlow 24; M Newby 22.

Highfields Farm Butchers Premier Division
                                         P      W      L      Pts
Bolehill Institute No 1       6        6       0       19
Belper Strutt No 1            5        4       1       18
Matlock Cons                   5        3       2       16
Edgefold Matlock             5        3        2       13
Belper Strutt No 2            5        1       4         9
Bolehill Institute No 2       5        1       4         9
Matlock Club                    5        0       5         6
Leading breaks: M Taylor 50, C Parker 45.
Leading wins: R Slack 6; P Jarrett 5.

MATLOCK CLUB THWARTED AS EDGEFOLD STORM BACK

DUNCAN HARWOOD took both his singles and doubles frames for Edgefold Club.

MATLOCK Club were denied their opening victory in this years Highfields Farm Butchers Premier Division when Edgefold Club came from 2-1 down to take the spoils by the minimum margin on Dale Road.
Duncan Harwood edged the first frame on the black for the visitors before Keith Manlove and Mick McFall put the hosts into a narrow advantage.

However, Martyn Taylor, with breaks of 26 and 21 sent the match into a decider and Harwood stepped up to the plate again, partnered by Rob Muxlow, to ensure victory for his team.

Belper Strutt No 2 team did manage to register their opening league win, however, 4-1 at Bolehill Institute No 2 to follow up their cup success of last week.

Adam Winson's return to the fold has been a big factor, as he was successful in both singles and doubles frames, though Chris Stubbs' black-ball decider in frame four was the decisive blow.

Martin Forster secured the only point for the home team despite Paul Ogden scoring a break of 25 against him.

In the top of the table encounter, Bolehill No 1 edged out Belper Strutt No 1 3-2.

Simon Zoppi had taken the fourth frame on the black to make the game safe before Steve Bullock, partnered by Paul Jarrett, took pink and black in the concluding doubles frame to reduce the arrears.

League week 5 results: Matlock Club 2, Edgefold Matlock 3; Bolehill Inst No 2 1, Belper Strutt No 2 4; Bolehill Inst No 1 3, Belper Strutt No 1 2.
Breaks: M Taylor 26,21; P Ogden 25; C Marchington 22.

Highfields Farm Butchers Premier Division
                                         P      W      L      Pts
Bolehill Institute No 1       5        5       0       16
Belper Strutt No 1            4        3       1       13
Edgefold Matlock             4        3       1       11
Matlock Cons                   4        2       2       11
Belper Strutt No 2            4        1       3         9
Bolehill Institute No 2       4        1       3         9
Matlock Club                    5        0       5         6
Leading breaks: C Parker 45, M Taylor 40.
Leading wins: R Slack 5; P Jarrett 4.

BELPER STRUTT No 2 PULL OFF STUNNING COMEBACK

DAVE NEEDHAM was instrumental in one of the biggest turnarounds in Six Red Cup history.

BELPER STRUTT No 2 team pulled off one of the biggest comebacks in the short history of the Bob McCartin Six Red Cup when in the opening round, they came from 0-3 down to defeat Matlock's Edgefold Club 4-3.
The visitors had raced clear in the early frames, as Martyn Taylor, Richard Ferguson and Duncan Harwood all registered victories to take them to the brink of success.

However, Adam Winson, making his seasonal debut, took the remaining singles frame, and then Winson again, partnered by Chris Stubbs, pulled another back with a convincing 39-1 success in the first of the scotch doubles.

When Dave Needham and Stubbs edged out Ferguson and Neil Parkinson on the black to equalise the place was rocking and ultimately Needham and Winson were in no mood to be denied in the decider with the momentum with them.

Belper Strutt No 1 defeated Bolehill Institute No 2 5-2 with Mark Newby and Wayne Shooter undefeated in both their singles and scotch doubles frames while Mick Bunting was involved in both registers for the vanquished.

And in the other match Bolehill No 1 travelled to Matlock Club and scored a 6-1 triumph though three frames were won on the black, including decisive singles legs by Simon Zoppi, and Andrew Brough, who produced a timely 22 clearance to steal.

Chris Woodhouse and Keith Manlove scored a scotch doubles success for the hosts.

Bob McCartin Six Red Cup quarter finals: Belper Strutt No 2 4, Edgefold Matlock 3; Belper Strutt No 1 5, Bolehill Inst No 2 2; Matlock Club 1, Bolehill Inst No 1 6. Bye: Matlock Cons.
Breaks: R Slack 22, A Brough 22, C Stubbs 21.

TEAM SEMI VENUES WILL BE AS DRAWN FOR CUP COMPS

AS THE first of the team cup competitions get underway this week, just to outline the plans further ahead.
As there are a limited number of rounds (and venues for that matter) this season, the semi finals of the team competitions will be as drawn (i.e. home or away) with the finals as usual being at a neutral venue.
This will enable more teams the chance to stage a home game at some stage during the competitions and is in line with what happens in the billiards format with similar numbers.
The individual and doubles competitions will still be neutral semi finals and finals as per usual.

BOLEHILL No 1 MAINTAIN UNBEATEN RUN IN LOCAL DERBY

RICKI SLACK ... don't let the shirt put you off!

THE tightest match of this week's Highfields Farm Butchers Premier Division came courtesy of a thrilling Bolehill Institute derby, where the No 1 team edged out the No 2 outfit by the minimum margin to remain unbeaten.
Ricki Slack continued his decent form from the previous week with breaks of 30 and 28 to set his team on the right path but Martin Forster quickly equalised with a controlled display of his own.

Colin Marchington then made it 2-1 with a ready success but Mick Bunting made sure of a decider with a "Drago-like" potting exhibition to level up again.

But ultimately it was the No 1 team who earned local bragging rights when, already leading by 11, Ricki, partnered by Andrew Brough, took the pink with the rest in a tense doubles finale.

STEVE BULLOCK played a captains role for Belper Strutt No 1.

Belper Strutt No 1 also extended their winning run, this time 4-1 at Matlock Club as Steve Bullock notched a 29 break whilst top scoring before Keith Manlove and Mick McFall earned a point for the hosts in the concluding doubles frame.

Edgefold Club had two fixtures this week due to a previous cancellation, and they had mixed fortunes, defeating Belper Strutt No 2 4-1 then going under to Matlock Cons by the same scoreline.

Robert Muxlow (23 break) was in fine form in the first encounter though only Jason Ankers managed to register in the latter contest, where Jack Lynch (29 break) and Richard Deakin were outstanding for the hosts.

League week 4 results: Bolehill Inst No 1 3, Bolehill Inst No 2 2; Matlock Club 1, Belper Strutt No 1 4; Edgefold Matlock 4, Belper Strutt No 2 1; Matlock Cons 4, Edgefold Matlock 1.
Breaks: R Slack 30,28; S Bullock 29; J Lynch 29; R Muxlow 23.

Highfields Farm Butchers Premier Division
                                         P      W      L      Pts
Bolehill Institute No 1       4        4       0       13
Belper Strutt No 1            3        3       0       11
Matlock Cons                   4        2       2       11
Edgefold Matlock             3        2       1         8
Bolehill Institute No 2       3        1       2         8
Belper Strutt No 2            3        0       3         5
Matlock Club                    4        0       4         4
Leading breaks: C Parker 45, M Taylor 40.
Leading wins: R Slack 4; J Lynch, P Jarrett & C Parker 3.

WAYNE SHOOTS BELPER STRUTT No 1 TO SECOND WIN

WAYNE SHOOTER ... pivotal win for Belper Strutt Club No 1

LAST season's B Division champions Belper Strutt Club No 1 have made a fine start to life in the Highfields Farm Butchers Premier Division, as they secured a 4-1 home success over Matlock Conservative Club to make it two wins out of two.
Jack Lynch, also renowned as a very talented golfer, struck first for the visitors, but from thereon the home side moved into overdrive.

Paul Jarrett equalised before Wayne Shooter ended the unbeaten run of Chris Parker with a 66-43 win in frame three.

New signing Kevin Holmes then made the game safe after which captain Steve Bullock and Jarrett edged a narrow doubles frame verdict at the end to complete an impressive win.

Bolehill Institute No 1 moved to the top of the table with their third outright win, also 4-1 at Matlock Club.

Ricki Slack had breaks of 35 and 30 in the concluding doubles frame after he, Simon Zoppi and a black ball win from Andrew Brough (from well adrift) had ensured victory with singles verdicts earlier in the night.

Keith Manlove struck for the home team to pull one back.

League week 3 results: Belper Strutt No 1 4, Matlock Cons 1; Matlock Club 1, Bolehill Institute No 1 4; Edgefold v Belper Strutt Club No 2 match postponed.
Breaks: R Slack 35,30.

Highfields Farm Butchers Premier Division
                                         P      W      L      Pts
Bolehill Institute No 1       3        3       0       10
Belper Strutt No 1            2        2       0         7
Matlock Cons                   3        1       2         7
Bolehill Institute No 2       2        1       1         6
Belper Strutt No 2            2        0       2         4
Edgefold Matlock             1        1       0         3
Matlock Club                    3        0       3         3
Leading breaks: C Parker 45, M Taylor 40.

CHRIS TURNS ON THE STYLE BUT BOLEHILL TAKE SPOILS

CHRIS PARKER ... quality 45 break at Bolehill

THE second round of league fixtures in the Highfields Farm Butchers Premier Division saw Matlock Conservative Club travelling to Bolehill Institute No 1 as early season pacesetters after the opening weeks results.
Nick Kay continued the good work by sneaking the first frame on the black against the hosts' Simon Zoppi. Prospects had looked bleak when he found himself 23 adrift with just the colours on but a well laid snooker after potting the last red proved the catalyst for a great comeback.

Ricki Slack then engineered his own turnaround, from 40 adrift against experienced campaigner Charlie Hodgkinson, to eventually take the frame on the blue 68-52 for 1-1.

Chris Parker has started the season in fine form however and a contribution of 45 took him to the top of the early season breaks chart, as well as eventually securing the frame to put the visitors 2-1 ahead despite some battling play in adversity towards the end from Andrew Brough.

With the game swinging to and fro, Ian Birks equalised at 2-2 with an excellent all round display before he and Ricki took the deciding doubles frame 54-16 for a hard fought 3-2 success.

Bolehill No 2 team also scored a useful win, 4-1 at home to Matlock Club, with Ian Peacock, Martin Forster and Mick Bunting making the game safe in the opening three frames before Paul Holmes hit back in his first appearance of the season for the visitors.

Elsewhere,in the Belper Strutt Club derby, the No 1 team edged out the No 2 team 3-2 to open their campaign in a positive manner as Steve Bullock and Kevin Holmes took the deciding doubles frame.

League week 2 results: Bolehill Inst No 1 3, Matlock Cons 2; Bolehill Inst No 2 4, Matlock Club 1; Belper Strutt No 2 2, Belper Strutt No 1 3.
Breaks: C Parker 45.

Highfields Farm Butchers Premier Division
                                         P      W      L      Pts
Bolehill Institute No 1       2        2       0         6 
Bolehill Institute No 2       2        1       1         6
Matlock Cons                   2        1       1         6
Belper Strutt No 2            2        0       2         4
Belper Strutt No 1            1        1       0         3
Edgefold Matlock             1        1       0         3
Matlock Club                    2        0       2         2
Leading breaks: C Parker 45, M Taylor 40.