STRUTT CLUB TAKE BOB McCARTIN CUP WITH APLOMB

L-R: SIX RED CHAMPIONS Mark Newby, Paul Jarrett, Steve Bullock and Wayne Shooter.

BELPER STRUTT CLUB continued their recent upturn in form to lift the Bob McCartin Six Red Cup, played in memory of their popular long-standing late team-mate, as they defeated Matlock Golf Club 4-0 in the final at Alfreton Palmer Morewood Club.
The opening frame was a tight battle of wits between Paul Jarrett and Tony Blant which lasted as long as many a conventional frame of snooker but eventually it was Jarrett who took the black, seizing his opportunity when it arose.
Steve Bullock sank an early run of 20 in the next and never relinquished the ascendancy thereafter in defeating Ian McKay 50-20.
A pivotal third frame saw Wayne Shooter cut the black into the baulk yellow pocket in a cliffhanging clash with Charlie Hodgkinson and the deal was sealed when Mark Newby produced some of his best form of the season to defeat Graham Jones, again by a 50-20 verdict.

Bolehill No 1 moved into second place in the Joinery Joint Snooker League when they took maximum points from their trip to Matlock Club, which was rescheduled to avoid  a clash with Easter Monday.
Ricki Slack's 46 break equalled the highest so far in league action en route to amassing a century points haul though three of the other frames went down to the final black.

The preliminary round of the Jimmy Harper Plate saw Bolehill No 2 defeat Edgefold No 2 on the final black 302-288 as despite the home team dominating the early proceedings, Rob Dicken and Sam Lavelle almost pulled off an incredible turnaround in the doubles.
Kevin Munnelly top scored for the hosts.

There were also semi final victories for Graham Jones, Kevin Munnelly and the pairs combination of Andy Russell and Duncan Harwood in various knockout competitions, with Russell notching a superb break of 65.

Bob McCartin Six Red Cup final: Belper Strutt Club 4, Matlock Golf Club 0 (at Alfreton Palmer Morewood).
Joinery Joint Snooker League: Matlock Club 0, Bolehill Institute No 1 5.
OMYA Cup (Individual Scratch) semi final: Graham Jones 3, Derek Smith 0.
Denis Morton Pairs Handicap semi final: Andy Russell & Duncan Harwood 3, Jamie Rowland & Simon Mays 1.
"B" (Intermediate) Individual Handicap semi final: Steve Bullock 1, Kevin Munnelly 2.
Breaks: A Russell 65; R Slack 46; S Bullock 20.

ALFRETON No 2 BACK FROM THE BRINK AT BOLEHILL No 2

RYAN TAYLOR kept his team in the huint at Bolehill No 2

ALFRETON Palmer Morewood No 2 kept alive their title hopes with a 3-2 victory at Bolehill No 2 leaving them five points adrift of leaders Edgefold No 1 with a game in hand.
But things had not looked so rosy earlier in the evening as Ian Peacock and Mick Bunting were in excellent nick for the hosts, securing a 2-0 lead with some confident potting.
Ryan Taylor, with his eighth win in ten outings, took a hard fought third frame 44-35 to keep his side in the hunt and a black ball win for John Smith levelled matters in the next.
And Smith teamed up with brother Derek in the deciding doubles leg to take the spoils with a 50-37 scoreline.
Alfreton No 1 were edged out 3-2 by the aforementioned league leaders Edgefold No 1 with Andy Russell and Rob Muxlow in high scoring mood while Jamie Rowland stretched his unbeaten run to ten league matches for the Amber Valley cuemen.
Also tasting success by the minimum margin were Edgefold No 2 thanks to Rob Dickin and Sam Lavelle who took each of their singles and doubles legs. Mick Mackfall top scored for the vanquished as he opened his league account for the season.
Belper Strutt Club continued their uprising with a 4-1 defeat of Matlock Golf Club with supersub Justin Weller instrumental in some of their best play.
League week 14 results: Bolehill Institute No 2 2, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 2 3; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1 2, Edgefold Matlock No 1 3; Edgefold Matlock No 2 3, Matlock Club 2; Belper Strutt Club 4, Matlock Golf Club 1.
Breaks: S Mays 28; J Rowland 24; R Dicken 21.

The Joinery Joint Snooker League
                                          P      W      L      Pts
Edgefold Matlock No 1     13       7       6     40
Matlock Golf Club             12       7       5     36
Alfreton P Morewd No 1   12       8       4     36
Bolehill Institute No 1        11       8       3     34
Alfreton P Morewd No 2   12       7       5     35
Bolehill Institute No 2        12       5       7     27
Belper Strutt Club             12       6       6     24
Edgefold Matlock No 2      12       5       7     21
Matlock Club                      12       1     11     17
Leading breaks: P Roe 46; R Slack 44.
Leading wins: J Rowland 10/10; G Jones & R Muxlow 9/12.

STRUTT CLUB HALT PROGRESS OF LEAGUE LEADERS

JUSTIN WELLER partnered Steve Bullock to success in the doubles

LAST SEASONS champs Belper Strutt Club pulled off their second successive Joinery Joint League win over title contenders with a 3-2 victory at Edgefold Matlock No 1, who nevertheless remain two points clear a the summit, albeit having played an extra game more than their rivals.
Rob Muxlow, with a narrow 59-51 success and then Duncan Harwood with a more comfortable margin had put the home team 2-0 up and things were seemingly set fair for another satisfactory outcome for the Matlock cuemen.
But a black-ball win for Mark Newby was quickly followed by an emphatic success from skipper Steve Bullock and then the visiting captain teamed up with Justin Weller to take the decisive doubles leg.

Matlock Golf Club surged into second place with a 5-0 whitewash of Edgefold No 2 as Chesterfield League seniors champ Paul Roe went to the head of the highest breaks table with his run of 46 in the opener.

Bolehill Institute No 1 entertained Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1 and both remain well in contention after the hosts sneaked a 3-2 verdict.
Ricki Slack and Ian Birks took the deciding pairs frame after Simon Mays had top scored for the Amber Valley side.

And Bolehill No 2, despite being several players short, edged a 3-2 cliffhanger at Matlock Club. Keith Robertson top scored and then took the doubles with Mick Bunting after Paul Bryan had equalised.

League week 13 results: Edgefold Matlock No 1 2, Belper Strutt Club 3; Matlock Golf Club 5, Edgefold Matlock No 2 0; Bolehill Institute No 1 3, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1 2; Matlock Club 2, Bolehill Institute No 2 3.
Breaks: P Roe 46; J Weller 23; R Dicken 22; S Mays 21; S Bullock 20.

The Joinery Joint Snooker League
                                          P      W      L      Pts
Edgefold Matlock No 1     12       6       6     37
Matlock Golf Club             11       7       4     35
Alfreton P Morewd No 1   11       8       3     34
Bolehill Institute No 1        11       8       3     34
Alfreton P Morewd No 2   11       6       5     32
Bolehill Institute No 2        11       5       6     25
Belper Strutt Club             11       5       6     20
Edgefold Matlock No 2      11       4       7    18
Matlock Club                     11       1     10     15
Leading breaks: P Roe 46; R Slack 44.
Leading wins: J Rowland 9/9; G Jones 9/11; R Slack & R Muxlow 8/11.

SEMI FINAL DRAWS FOR MARCH AND APRIL

THE draws for the semi finals of the competitions 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 (see the contacts sheet, please give at least 48hrs notice and preferably more).

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.

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 captains.

"B" (INTERMEDIATE) INDIVIDUAL HANDICAP Semi Finals

Best of 3 Frames - Normal League Handicaps apply - 7.30pm

Mon Mar 13: Steve Bullock (Belper Strutt Club) v Kevin Munnelly (Bolehill 2)
Mon Mar 27: Paul Holmes (Matlock Club)  v Duncan Harwood (Edgefold 1)

OPEN INDIVIDUAL HANDICAP Semi Finals

Best of 5 Frames - Normal League Handicaps apply - 7.30pm
Mon Mar 20: John Smith (Alfreton PM 2) v Duncan Harwood (Edgefold 1)

Mon Mar 27: Ryan Taylor (Alfreton PM 2) v Keith Manlove (Matlock Club)

OMYA CUP (INDIVIDUAL SCRATCH) Semi Finals
Best of 5 Frames - All off Scratch - 7.30pm
Mon Mar 13: Graham Jones (Matlock Golf Club) v Derek Smith (Alfreton PM 2)
Mon Mar 27: Steve Bullock (Belper Strutt Club) v Andy Russell (Edgefold 1)

DENIS MORTON TROPHY (PAIRS HANDICAP) Semi Finals

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

Mon Mar 13: D Harwood / A Russell (Edge 1) v J Rowland / S Mays (Alfreton 1)
Mon Apr 03: N Parkinson / R Muxlow (Edge 1) v K Manlove / P Holmes (Mat Clb)

BOB McCARTIN SIX RED CUP (TEAM HANDICAP) Final

Best of 7 Frames - Half Normal League Handicaps apply - 7.30pm

Four Singles & Three Scotch Doubles (max 1 singles & 2 pairs per player)

Tue Mar 14: Matlock Golf Club v Belper Strutt Club
(at Alfreton Palmer Morewood)

CAPTAINS CUP (TEAM AGGREGATE) Semi Finals

5 Frames Agg To Count - Normal League Handicaps apply - 7.30pm

Tue Apr 04: Matlock Golf Club v Matlock Club

Tue Apr 04: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 2 v Edgefold Matlock No 1

JIMMY HARPER PLATE (TEAM AGGREGATE) Preliminary Round

5 Frames Agg To Count - Normal League Handicaps apply - 7.30pm

Wed Mar 15: Bolehill Institute No 2 v Edgefold Matlock No 2

Semi Finals

Mon Apr 03: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1 v Bolehill 2 or Edgefold 2

Wed Apr 05: Belper Strutt Club v Bolehill Institute No 1

ALFRETON No 1 PUSH EDGEFOLD No 1 TO THE VERY BRINK

ANDREW BEARDSLEY ... black ball win

TWO remaining semi final places were up for grabs in the final group matches of the Captains Cup team aggregate competiion and the most fascinating battle saw Edgefold Matlock No 1 defeated by visitors Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1 but still retain narrow superiority on points difference to qualify.
Paul Pilsworth took the opening frame 68-55 to give the Amber Valley cuemen the start they needed and a black ball win from Andrew Beardsley kept them in the hunt.
Neil Parkinson edged the next 48-40 to halt their progress but a superb performance from Jamie Rowland with a 91-35 success over danger man Andy Russell left them just ten points adrift going into the concluding doubles leg.
But Rob Muxlow and in form Duncan Harwood battened down the hatches to ensure the Matlock team qualification by the skin of their teeth.

So with all three group winners decided, it left just one spot for the best runners-up and Matlock Club grabbed their opportunity with both hands to record one of their best ever victory margins, 359-159 against fellow challengers Edgefold No 2.
Keith Manlove achieved eighty points hauls in both his singles and doubles legs (the latter with Paul Holmes) after Graeme Wood had done likewise in the opener.

In the other match, Belper Strutt Club continued their upsurgence with a comfortable 329-234 triumph over Bolehill No 2 with Steve Bullock top scoring as only Keith Robertson registered for the vanquished but ultimately it wasn't enough due to Matlock Club's earlier exploits.

Captains Cup (Team Aggregate Competition): Group A: Edgefold Matlock No 2 159, Matlock Club 359; Group B: Belper Strutt Club 329, Bolehill Institute No 2 234; Group C: Edgefold Matlock No 1 253, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1 312.
Open Individual Handicap quarter final: Keith Manlove 2, Derek Smith 1; John Smith 2, Steve Bullock 0; Rob Muxlow 1, Ryan Taylor 2.
"B" (Intermediate) Individual Handicap quarter final: Paul Holmes 2, Keith Manlove 0.
Breaks: J Smith 42; R Muxlow 27; D Smith 24.

Group A                         P      W      L      F      A      Diff     Pts
Alfreton P M No 2          2       2       0     589   481    107       2
Matlock Club                  2       1       1     623   443    180       1
Edgefold Matlock No 2  2       0       2     376   664   -288       0

Group B                         P      W      L      F      A      Diff     Pts
Matlock Golf Club          2       2       0     656   543    113        2
Belper Strutt Club           2       1       1     595   544      51       1
Bolehill Institute No 2     2       0       2     511   675  -164        0

Group B                         P      W      L      F      A      Diff     Pts
Edgefold Matlock No 1   2       1       1     609   585      24       1
Alfreton P M No 1           2       1       1     563   554        9       1
Bolehill Institute No 1     2       1       1     574   607     -33       1

Qualification preference: 1. Most wins; if equal, points difference to decide; if still level points scored.
Top teams in each group qualify along with best runner-up, remainder enter plate competition.

STRUTT CLUB PUT THE SKIDS UNDER BOLEHILL No 1

MARK NEWBY ... black ball win in opener

BELPER STRUTT CLUB showed there is life in the old dogs yet as last seasons champions brushed off their indifferent Joinery Joint League campaign so far to earn a 3-2 win over one of a myriad of title challengers, Bolehill Institute No 1.
Mark Newby looked set to take the first until Colin Marchington with a succession of pots on the colours took the frame to the final black. And Newby pulled out one of his best shots of the season so far to take the spoils.
Ricki Slack equalised in the next despite being 36 adrift before scoring but then Paul Jarrett achieved a similar feat in coming from twenty behind early doors to win 64-29.
Ian Birks levelled in the next with a 75-42 success but Newby teamed up with captain Steve Bullock to control the final doubles leg with a 67-34 verdict.

Matlock Golf Club were another of the title contenders to slip up as they lost 3-2 at Bolehill No 2. The best frame of the night saw Keith Robertson (32 break) defeat Ian McKay (24 break) in a veritable feast of snooker whilst Mick Bunting took his tally to five out of seven to make sure of the spoils.

There were no slip ups however from new table toppers Edgefold No 1 or Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 2.
The Matlock cuemen defeated their No 2 team 5-0 with Robert Muxlow top scoring despite Rob Dicken's 29 break and Andy Russell notched a run of 38 in the pairs.

The Amber Valley side inflicted a 4-1 defeat of Matlock Club with Ryan Taylor's 37 break the highlight of the night. Keith Manlove was on target for the hosts.

In the Intermediate "B" Individual Handicap, Duncan Harwood produced his highest ever match break with a superb 59 as his 2-1 victory over Derek Smith saw him progress to the semi finals.

League week 11 results: Belper Strutt Club 3, Bolehill Institute No 2 2; Bolehill Institute No 2 3, Matlock Golf Club 2; Edgefold Matlock No 2 0, Edgefold Matlock No 1 5; Matlock Club 1, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 2 4. Bye week: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1.
"B" (Intermediate) Individual Handicap quarter finals: Duncan Harwood 2, Derek Smith 1; Steve Bullock 2, John Smith 1; Andrew Haggarty 1, Kevin Munnelly 2.
Open Individual Handicap quarter final: Duncan Harwood 2, Tom Broughton 0.
Breaks: D Harwood 59,28; A Russell 38; R Taylor 37; K Robertson 32; R Dicken 29; G Jones 26.21; I McKay 24; A Brough 22; C Marchington 21.

The Joinery Joint Snooker League
                                          P      W      L      Pts
Edgefold Matlock No 1     11        6       5     35
Alfreton P Morewd No 1  10        8       2     32
Alfreton P Morewd No 2   11       6       5     32
Bolehill Institute No 1        10       7       3     31
Matlock Golf Club             10       6       4     30
Bolehill Institute No 2        10       4       6     22
Edgefold Matlock No 2      10       4       6    18
Belper Strutt Club             10       4       6     17
Matlock Club                     10       1       9     13
Leading breaks: R Slack 44; A Russell 38.
Leading wins: J Rowland 9/9; G Jones 8/10; A Russell 8/11;  R Taylor 7/9.

FIVE TEAMS SEPARATED BY FOUR POINTS IN TITLE CHASE

KEITH ROBERTSON'S 22 clearance was a match winner

JUST four points separate the top five teams in the most thrilling race yet for the Joinery Joint Snooker League title and Bolehill Institute No 2 upset one of the leading contenders Edgefold No 1 with a 3-2 win on Edge Road to complete a league double over their high flying counterparts.
There was little sign of things to come initially as firstly Rob Muxlow and then Duncan Harwood achieved routine victories to give the home team a 2-0 advantage early doors.
But danger man Keith Robertson started the comeback with a 69-47 verdict in frame three and then Mick Bunting showed some dashing potting skills on the colours to equalise.
And it was the same pairing who brought home the spoils, with Robertson's 22 clearance pivotal in turning a narrow deficit into a match winning frame scoreline.

Bolehill No 1 kept up the pressure with a 4-1 home win over Edgefold No 2, as Simon Zoppi edged out Sean Dobney on a re-spotted black on a night where both teams struggled to reach the heights. Rob Dicken avoided the dreaded whitewash with a run from yellow to pink in the concluding doubles.

Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1 remain top thanks to a 3-2 success over last seasons champions Belper Strutt Club. Simon Mays top scored before Jamie Rowland earned his ninth successive league win on the black before Wayne Shooter took each of his singles and doubles frames.

And Alfreton No 2 scored a noteworthy 3-2 victory at Matlock Golf Club with Derek Smith again in fine form after Graham Jones put the golfers ahead in the opener. Charlie Hodgkinson's equalising win in frame four left everything resting on the doubles but Smith and Ryan Taylor made sure the trip back into the Amber Valley was a happy one.

League week 10 results: Edgefold Matlock No 1 2, Bolehill Institute No 1 3; Bolehill Institute No 1 4, Edgefold Matlock No 2 1; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 1 3, Belper Strutt Club 2; Matlock Golf Club 2, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 2 3. Bye week: Matlock Club.
Breaks: K Robertson 22; S Dobney 21; R Dicken 20; D Smith 20.

The Joinery Joint Snooker League
                                          P      W      L      Pts
Alfreton P Morewd No 1  10        8       2     32
Edgefold Matlock No 1     10       5       5      30
Bolehill Institute No 1         9        7       2     29
Matlock Golf Club              9        6       3     28
Alfreton P Morewd No 2  10        5       5     28
Bolehill Institute No 2         9        3       6     19
Edgefold Matlock No 2      9        4       5     18
Belper Strutt Club             9        3       6      14
Matlock Club                     9        1       8      12
Leading breaks: R Slack 44; A Russell 38.
Leading wins: J Rowland 9/9; G Jones 7/9; A Russell 7/10.