LAST SEASON'S TOP DOG HITS A SUPERB HALF CENTURY

STEVE BURTON ... 55 break

EDGEFOLD No1 entertained Tansley Potters in the T & M Motors Snooker League looking to avenge a black ball loss in the six red cup at Jackhill Farm just the previous week.
Duncan Harwood was in flying form in the opener as he commanded proceedings to take a 76-9 success and Richard Ferguson continued his impressive comeback to the snooker world with a 73-38 salvo to make it 2-0.
The best was yet to come however as last season's winning-most player Steve Burton notched a superb run of 55 that takes the lead in the early highest break chart and ultimately gave him the frame 68-45 to secure victory for his team.
Tansley rallied bravely however with Radford Neville notching breaks of 25.24 and 21 in his singles and doubles legs (partnering father Joe in the latter contest) to reduce the final arrears to the minimum margin at 3-2.

Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 edged to the top of the table courtesy of a 5-0 home win over Edgefold No3. Jack Lowe took a black ball decider in the first and Ben Monk top scored before completing the clean sweep in the doubles with partner Carlos Zaragoza.

Clay Cross Brotherhood made it three from three as they saw off Edgefold No2 4-1. Duncan Waring and Ian McKay won each of their singles and doubles legs whilst Scott Brooks (26 break) was in excellent form for the vanquished with a lone riposte.

Bolehill Institute took a 4-1 success from Belper RBL despite Mark Newby putting the hosts in front early on. Ian Doe equalised in fine style and then successive black-ball wins for Ricki Slack (breaks of 29 and 23) and Ian Birks (from snooker required) sealed the deal before they teamed up to put the icing on the cake in the doubles.

The other game saw Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 come from 2-1 down to snatch a 3-2 victory at Crich Comrades. Des Smith put them in front early doors but Jack Long and Martyn Dronfield soon edged the hosts ahead.
However, Andrew Haggarty was on hand to play a captains role as he took each of his singles and doubles legs, latterly partnered by promising youngster Cole Smith to make the short trip back home a happy one.

In the opening contest of the Elliott Carpets Billiards League, honours were shared once again between host Tansley Potters and Bolehill Institute, as indeed they were in last season's final league table when the title was shared between the two.
Joe Neville's 31 break came at a timely junction as he edged in front just before the end of the allotted 75 minutes to win 157-148 while Ricki Slack, who also notched a run of 31, set off well before his advantage was reduced to 29 near the end, leaving the scores locked at 13-13.

T & M Motors Snooker League week 3: Edgefold Matlock No1 3, Tansley Potters 2; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 5, Edgefold Matlock No3 0; Clay Cross Brotherhood 4, Edgefold Matlock No2 1; Belper Royal British Legion 1, Bolehill Institute 4; Crich Comrades 2, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 3.
Breaks: S Burton 55; R Slack 29,23; S Brooks 26; R Neville 25,24,21.

Elliott Carpets Billiards League (brought forward): Tansley Potters 13, Bolehill Institute 13.
Breaks: J Neville 31; R Slack 31.

T & M Motors Snooker League        P        W       L       Pts 
Alfreton P Morewood No 2                  3         2         1      11
Clay Cross Brotherhood                      3         3         0      10 
Edgefold Matlock No 1                        3         3         0      10
Bolehill Institute                                   3         2         1        9
Crich Comrades                                  3         2         1        8
Tansley Potters                                    3         1         2        8
Alfreton P Morewood No 1                  3         1         2        7
Edgefold Matlock No 2                        3         1         2        6 
Belper Royal British Legion                 3         0         3        3
Edgefold Matlock No 3                        3         0         3        3                   
Leading breaks: S Burton 55, C Marchington 35.
Leading wins: D Waring, S Burton, C Zaragoza & B Monk all 3/3.

Elliott Carpets Billiards League       P     W      D       L     Pts
Bolehill Institute                                   1       0       1       0      13
Tansley Potters                                    1       0       1       0      13
Mayfield Institute                                  0       0       0       0       0
Whitworth Institute                                0       0       0       0       0

BOLEHILL'S BLACK-BALL HAT-TRICK SECURES VICTORY

SIMON ZOPPI

THE SECOND round of group games in the Bob McCartin Six Red Cup saw the two winners of round one clash in Group A as Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 entertained Bolehill Institute.
A ding-dong battle in the first ensued as Colin Marchington struck first with a run of 24 before opponent Carlos Zaragoza fought back, twice getting snookers required to take it down to the final black.
Unfortunately for him Marchington fluked it into a baulk pocket and an early fluke from Ricki Slack put him in the driving seat in the next against opponent Jack Lowe as he capitalised with a teen break from it.
Once again the home player did not lie down however, almost taking all the colours in one visit from yellow onwards until he rattled the black off the spot, eventually Slack taking it to win by one point.
Simon Zoppi also triumphed by a single point as his excellent black into a baulk pocket made it 3-0 (all down to the final ball) before Andrew Beardsley finally got the Amber Valley cuemen on the board after some near misses.
However, Slack and Marchington were off to a flyer in the first of the scotch doubles and eventually brown and blue were enough to secure a 4-1 lead.
With the remaining scotch doubles going the way of the hosts, courtesy of Ady Lowe (combining with Zaragoza and Beardsley respectively and conceding only eight points in total), the visitors had to settle for the minimum margin at the end.

Clay Cross Brotherhood were also narrow victors on their first appearance in Group B this time around, defeating Crich Comrades 4-3 despite Rob Mulliss' excellent 37 break with Duncan Waring notching a run of 29 for the victors.

Tansley Potters made it two from two in Group C as they saw off Edgefold No1 4-3. Steve Hawkins was the star turn as he won all three frames he contested, after Joe Neville had put the home side into an early lead.
Richard Ferguson was also successful in both frames he participated.

Edgefold No2 again got the better of Edgefold No3, this time 5-2 in Group A after winning the recent league battle between the teams. However, the No3 youngsters went two up for the second time in as many weeks with Reece Johnstone and Jacob Bradbury excelling.
But Scott Brooks and Martin Barwick pulled things level, and successive black ball wins in the opening two scotch doubles games sealed the deal, before they also took the last with a little more to spare.

Bob McCartin Six Red Cup, Group A: Alfreton Palmer Morewood 3, Bolehill Institute 4; Edgefold Matlock No2 5, Edgefold Matlock No3 2; Group B: Clay Cross Brotherhood 4, Crich Comrades 3; Group C: Tansley Potters 4, Edgefold Matlock No1.
Breaks: R Mulliss 37; D Waring 29: C Marchington 24; J Lowe 20.

Bob McCartin Six Red Cup Qualifying Stage

Group A                              P         W         L         Pts
Bolehill Institute                  2          2           0           8
Alfreton P Morewood No2  2          1           1           8
Edgefold Matlock No1        2          1           1           8
Edgefold Matlock No3        2          0           2           4

Group B                              P         W          L         Pts
Belper Strutt Club               1          1           0           5
Crich Comrades                 2          0           2           5
Clay Cross Brotherhood     1          1           0           4

Group C                              P         W          L         Pts
Tansley Potters                    2          2           0           8
Edgefold Matlock No2         1          0           1           3
Alfreton P Morewood No1   1          0           1           3

The two bottom placed teams with the lowest points per game average are eliminated from quarter final stages. Group winners are at home in quarter finals.

ROB SHINES AS EDGEFOLD No1 EARN BRAGGING RIGHTS

ROB MUXLOW was amongst the breaks for EDGEFOLD No1

ROB MUXLOW was the star turn of the second round of games in the T & M Motors Snooker League as he pulled his singles match from out of the fire with a 28 clearance (taking pink as green after a free ball and the remaining colours) and then added runs of 32 and 20 in the concluding doubles leg as Edgefold No1 saw off their clubmates of Edgefold No2 4-1.
Steve Burton and Tommy Smith also put in solid shifts with workmanlike victories while Martin Barwick registered for the vanquished, who  missed unavailable captain Scott Brooks.

Edgefold No3 came close to their first win as they led Clay Cross Brotherhood 2-0 with Reece Johnstone and Sam Kniveton scoring impressing successes of 64-28 and 78-50 respectively.
But the old heads of Graham Jones (on the black) and Duncan Waring came to the rescue of the visitors to square things up and eventually Waring and Ian McKay completed the comeback with an 83-59 verdict in the pairs for 3-2.

Crich Comrades edged out Tansley Potters 3-2 after Jack Long and Phil Leverton had put them into the ascendancy early doors with convincing wins. Steve Hawkins pulled one back after a tight battle in the third but Nick Berry made sure of the visitors' victory in the next.
Hawkins and Joe Neville reduced the arrears with a 47-46 scoreline in the doubles.

Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 defeated Belper Royal British Legion 4-1 with Ady and Jack Lowe top scoring in the doubles leg after Andrew Beardsley had sealed the win in the third though Steve Bullock took the next 62-54 to collect the Legionnaires' only point.

In the other match Bolehill Institute emerged with a 3-2 win over Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 with Ricki Slack and Ian Birks securing the decisive doubles leg after Ian Doe and Simon Zoppi had taken their singles contests earlier in the night. Andrew Haggarty and John Smith (on the black) had twice levelled matters for the visitors.

T & M Motors Snooker League week 02: Edgefold Matlock No1 4, Edgefold Matlock No2 1; Edgefold No3 2, Clay Cross Brotherhood 3; Tansley Potters 2, Crich Comrades 3; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 4, Belper Royal British Legion 1; Bolehill Institute 3, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 2.
Breaks: R Muxlow 32,28,20.

COMRADES PULL RUG FROM UNDER VISITORS ALFRETON

PHIL LEVERTON started the Crich comeback

FOLLOWING last week's six red openers, another season of hopes and dreams got underway for proper as the T & M Motors Snooker League swung into action with a mix of experienced stalwarts and bright new talents entering the fray.
Some exciting matches were witnessed and none more-so than on School Lane where Crich Comrades continued last weeks' trend of turnarounds themselves  against Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 after being on the wrong end of one last week.
A thrilling opener saw Ben Monk (27 break) steal the frame from behind 79-71 and it was soon 2-0 to the visitors as Carlos Zaragoza edged another tight encounter 49-41.
Phil Leverton took the next on the black however to keep his side in the hunt and when Nick Berry triumphed in the fourth frame 61-44 it was all down to the deciding doubles leg.
Needing no second invitation, up stepped Paul Trevett and league debutant Martyn Dranfield to seal a memorable 3-2 win for the Tramwaymen with a 60-24 verdict.

Tansley Potters were off to a flyer with a 4-1 success at Belper RBL. Joe Neville took the opener on the black 72-70 and although Paul Jarrett equalised, there was no further joy for the Legionnaires with Steve and Joe Hawkins taking the next two frames respectively and the visitors also securing the doubles leg.

The all-Edgefold clash saw the No2 team defeat the No3 team 4-1. Martin Barwick top scored for the victors whilst Josh Dakin and Trevor Wright also impressed before Fin Harvey and Reece Johnstone registered for the vanquished in the doubles.

Edgefold No1 secured a hard-fought 3-2 success at Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 where three games went down to the last black.
Richard Ferguson marked his comeback with a 67-61 win to open proceedings and Steve Burton then edged the next by a single point 60-59.
Phil Longden pulled one back and teamed up with Cole Smith to take the doubles leg on the black but Tommy Smith had sealed the deal for the visitors in-between.

Clay Cross Brotherhood were also fast out of the blocks with Duncan Waring and Graham Jones each notching runs of 29 en-route to singles successes while Bolehill's Colin Marchington, having reached a break of 35, was unlucky not to get more as he potted the next blue only to see the cue ball disappear in-off.
Tony Blant's 44-43 win on the black in the fourth frame made sure of an eventual 3-2 victory.

T & M Motors Snooker League week 01: Crich Comrades 3, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 2; Belper Royal British Legion 1, Tansley Potters 4; Edgefold Matlock No2 4, Edgefold Matlock No3 1; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 2, Edgefold Matlock No1 3; Clay Cross Brotherhood 3, Bolehill Institute 2.
Breaks: C Marchington 35; D Waring 29; G Jones 29; B Monk 27; R Ferguson 23; D Smith 20.

TURNAROUNDS GALORE IN SIX RED CUP GROUP OPENERS

STEVE BULLOCK teamed up with Justin Weller sublimely

THE BOB McCARTIN SIX RED CUP kicked off this season's T & M Motors Snooker League action and the group stages saw several turnarounds as the teams getting off to a flying start seemed to have the rug pulled from under them in a number of games.

Belper Royal British Legion feature the old team-mates of the late Bob McCartin who have done him proud in this eponymous competition over the years but they fell 2-0 behind early doors at Crich Comrades in Group B with Paul Trevett and Ade Smith striking 40-18 and 30-21 respectively.
However, Mark Newby snatched the third on the black to reduce the arrears and after Justin Weller levelled matters, the pendulum well and truly swung towards the away side.
Steve Bullock and Wayne Shooter edged another close encounter on the black in the first of the scotch doubles and with Paul Jarrett and Newby putting the game beyond the hosts, the cue arms began to flow ever more freely.
This being the case, Weller and Bullock combined sublimely in the seventh and final frame with breaks of 27 and 23 in the pairs, showing the value of precise teamwork for an overall 5-2 win.

Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 were also out of the blocks quickly as they entertained Tansley Potters in Group C with Des Smith striking early with a 31 break en route to a 44-31 success.
Radford Neville equalised but Phil Longden and Andrew Haggarty with successive frames put the Amber Valley side one away from victory.
That is how it stayed though as Tansley took all three scotch doubles legs for a 4-3 verdict, with the Hawkins' father and son partnership's black ball success in the sixth frame proving pivotal.

Group A's opener was also a come from behind scenario after Scott Brooks (on the pink) and Trevor Wright (on the black) had Edgefold No2 two to the good at Bolehill Institute.
Ricki Slack took green to pink to pull one back and teamed up with Colin Marchington for a black ball success in the scotch doubles after Simon Zoppi had equalised in-between.
Brooks and Josh Dakin levelled matters again at 3-3 before the two Ians, Birks and Doe teamed up to deliver a pink ball triumph for Bolehill in the decider.

Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 went one better with a 5-2 win at Edgefold No3.
Ben Monk saw off a valiant effort from Fin Harvey to take a re-spotted black in the opener and although Sam Kniveton pulled it level, wins for Ady Lowe and Carlos Zaragoza soon had the visitors 3-1 up.
Monk and Ady Lowe soon secured the win before Harvey and Jacob Bradbury reduced the arrears.
The nights action concluded with Monk and Jack Lowe taking a 37-23 verdict.

Bob McCartin Six Red Cup, Group A: Bolehill Institute 4, Edgefold Matlock No2 3; Edgefold Matlock No3 2, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No 2 5; Group B: Crich Comrades 2, Belper Royal British Legion 5; Group C: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 3, Tansley Potters 4.
Breaks: D Smith 31; J Weller/S Bullock 27,23.

SMITHS BOOK-END ANOTHER PLATE WIN FOR ALFRETON 1

ALFRETON PALMER MOREWOOD No1 Jimmy Harper Plate winners 2023/24
L-R: Des Smith, Andrew Haggarty, John Smith, Phil Longden. Also played: Cole Smith.

ALFRETON PALMER MOREWOOD No1 defeated Tansley Potters 287-248 at Jackhill Farm in the Jimmy Harper Team Plate final, taking the event for the second time in a tight contest which concludes the 2023/24 season.
With Alfreton having defeated league champions Edgefold No 1 over a month ago, they had to wait until some of the delayed matches in the opposite part of the draw were played but shrugged off the absence to get off to a flying start.
Des Smith took the opener 82-47 and brother John was also in fine fettle as he notched a 66-35 success to give the Amber Valley cuemen a healthy 66 point lead after the first couple of frames.
Steve Hawkins made some inroads into the deficit as he defeated his old team-mate Phil Longden 69-42 and then his son Joe, who has found some form lately, started off in scintillating fashion as he looked to throw the game wide open.
However, a vital pink and black from Andrew Haggarty pegged the scoreline back to 72-59 and the Alfreton lead was still 26 going into the final doubles frame.
This was also bolstered by a five point advantage on the handicap as Hawkins and Radford Neville took on the earlier victorious Smith brothers.
And in a largely tactical frame, Tansley a few times threatened to get right back into it without quite converting that extra colour or two that would have given them a real sporting chance.
In the end, great pots from Des on green and brown made sure after a miss on the blue off the last red left the home team requiring snookers so Alfreton repeated their feat of September 2021 when they took a COVID-delayed final which actually saw Steve Hawkins and Phil Longden turning out for the defeated Bolehill team that night.
Jimmy Harper Plate (Team Aggregate Consolation) final: Tansley Potters 248, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 287: 47-82; 35-66; 69-42; 72-59; 25-38 (conceded on blue).

TANSLEY RACK UP 2ND HIGHEST SCORE IN PLATE HISTORY

TANSLEY POTTERS 2023-24 - KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY
L-R: Joe Hawkins, Steve Hawkins, Joe Neville, Ted Neville, Radford Neville.

THE PENULTIMATE match of the 2023/24 season saw the delayed encounter between Tansley Potters and Clay Cross Brotherhood with the fixture which finished the league campaign for both teams being repeated in the semi final of the Jimmy Harper Plate competition decided by overall aggregate points.
Joe Neville had the hosts ahead early doors with a 76-43 win giving his team a healthy advantage and son Radford added to this with a 61-44 verdict in the next.
An excellent 71-38 win for young Joe Hawkins in the next meant there was an 83 points difference going into the final two frames.
And after Steve Hawkins had taken the fourth 88-55 surely it was all but decided without one of the most incredible turnarounds in competition history.
Unsurprisingly, this wasn't forthcoming as the Nevilles completed a clean sweep with a 77-44 scoreline meaning they had amassed 373 points overall, the second highest recorded in the Plate's history, with Clay Cross registering 212.
A tough day at the office for the visitors, several of whom had been away on their holidays, and the rustiness was evident on the evening combined with some excellent performances from the victors.
Tansley now go on to meet Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 who progressed to the final several weeks ago with a semi final win over league champions Edgefold No1.

Jimmy Harper Plate (Team Aggregate Consolation) semi final: Tansley Potters 373, Clay Cross Brotherhood 212.