DUNCAN IS ON CUE FOR THE SECOND SUCCESSIVE YEAR

A TRIUMPHANT DUNCAN WARING with main match referee Paul Trevett

DUNCAN WARING of Clay Cross Brotherhood lifted the OMYA Cup (Individual Scratch) for the second year running,  securing a nail-biting 4-3 final success over Bolehill's Ricki Slack, a five-time winner of the event himself and now runner-up twice in the last three seasons, at Crich Comrades Club.
Waring had battled through a tough run to the final, defeating the likes of Scott Brooks, Ben Monk and Justin Weller en route while Slack had come through against John Roseman in the opening round and another individual finalist Rob Muxlow in the last eight.
Early doors it was all Waring as he dominated table time, taking the opening couple of frames with the minimum of fuss, with visits of 32,29 and 22 contributing to 82-12 and 50-14 winning margins.
The Bolehill cueman began to find his feet in the next despite Waring himself having a run of 23, however Slack's 29 break got his cue arm moving sufficiently to get over the line 73-58 to pull one back.
Waring was still striking the ball well and was in with 27 before Slack hit back to make it nip and tuck but a mishit safety allowed the Clay Cross player to pounce with a splendid clearance of 49 to go 3-1 up with scores of 77-35.
The fat lady could be excused for moving into position to open her vocal chords as Waring ran in a 39 at the start of frame five but again Slack fought back with the aid of a run of 20 and edged the frame on the final black from long range from just off the side cushion.
It was 3-3 as Slack engineered a 63-26 verdict with a visit of 21 and he made the early running in the decider as he moved twenty ahead despite Waring's excellent early standards.
However, knocking in the black inadvertently proved costly as Waring then pulled back to level the scores after which a bout of safety play and snookering meant the referee was kept busy with the miss rule in operation.
With Waring emerging from this period with a 12-point advantage, Slack then got in with yellow to brown to reduce the gap to three before more tactical play eventually left him a chance on blue to middle, albeit from near the green pocket.
However, playing for pink increased the difficulty of the shot and it went awry, meaning Waring came back to the table to dispatch impressive match-winning pots on a straight blue from a narrow angle into the green pocket while holding for pink which was just off its spot, cueing from the jaws of the middle pocket, both coolly taken with an air of confidence for a deserved success.
Thanks to the Comrades Club for hosting and to referees Paul Trevett and Ade Smith.

In the T & M Motors Snooker League, Clay Cross Brotherhood No2 extended their lead to four points with a 3-2 win at Crich Comrades with second placed Alfreton No2 inactive, though they now have two games in hand.
Callum Greenfield, Lee Shaw and John Roseman put the visitors three to the good but Nick Berry pulled one back and then Ade Smith and Paul Trevett took the doubles leg on the black.

Bolehill No1 have been pushed all the way by Bolehill No2 in their two clashes this season and once again they were held to just a 3-2 verdict, which nevertheless moves them narrowly into third place.
Ian Doe and Ricki Slack put the play off contenders 2-0 up before Mick Bunting (on the black) and Owen Williams levelled it up.
Ian Birks (runs of 25 and 21) and Slack stepped up in the pairs leg to ensure it went to the formbook however.

Edgefold No2 were defeated 3-2 at Alfreton No1 despite the excellent efforts of Scott Brooks who was twice successful (including as reserve giving the extra handicap due to player shortages).
Cole Smith and Andrew Haggarty had put the hosts two in front and Smith then teamed up with Phil Longden to see them over the line.

Belper Royal British Legion took maximum points from Edgefold No3 with Justin Weller top scoring and Mark Newby and Wayne Shooter taking each of their singles and doubles legs in the 5-0 triumph.

The same night they doubled up playing Edgefold No2 in the Jimmy Harper Plate competition and took a 327-277 win against a depleted host team who could only field two players on the night.
Scott Brooks (28 break) had taken the opener 81-55 but wins for Mark Newby, Steve Bullock and Justin Weller put the visitors in the ascendancy and despite Brooks and father Martin Barwick taking the doubles leg, the aggregate totals favoured the Legionnaires.

OMYA Cup (Individual Scratch) final: Duncan Waring (Clay Cross Brotherhood) 4, Ricki Slack (Bolehill Institute) 3 (at Crich Comrades): 82(32,22)-12; 50(29)-14; 58(23)-73(29); 77(27,49)-35; 59(39)-63(20); 26-63(21); 58-44.

T & M Motors Snooker League week 20: Crich Comrades 2, Clay Cross Brotherhood No2 3; Bolehill Institute No1 3, Bolehill Institute No2 2; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 3, Edgefold Matlock No2 2; Edgefold Matlock No3 0, Belper Royal British Legion 5.
Jimmy Harper Plate (Team Aggregate Consolation) first round: Edgefold Matlock No2 277, Belper Royal British Legion 327.
Breaks (inc. comps): D Waring 49,39,32,29,27,23,22; R Slack 29,21,20; S Brooks 28,28; I Birks 25,21; J Weller 25,21; I Doe 25.
Clay Cross Brotherhood sponsored Player of the Week: Duncan Waring (Clay Cross Brotherhood).

T & M Motors Snooker League        P        W        L      Pts 

Clay Cross Brotherhood No2            20       12         8      62

Alfreton P Morewood No2                 18       13         5      58

Bolehill Institute No1                         20       13         7      57

Edgefold Matlock No2                       20       11         9      56

Belper Royal British Legion               20       10       10      54

Tansley Potters                                  18       11         7      51

Edgefold Matlock No1                       18       10         8      48

Clay Cross Brotherhood No1            18         9         9      45

Alfreton P Morewood No1                 19       10         9      44

Crich Comrades                                20         9       11      42

Edgefold Matlock No3                       20         4       16      31

Bolehill Institute No2                         19         3       16      27

Leading breaks: C Greenfield 52; D Waring 47.
Leading wins: J Lowe 15/18;  M Newby 14/18; C Marchington 13/17.

ALFRETON 1 AND CLAY CROSS 2 TO MEET IN CUP FINAL

ANDREW HAGGARTY ... turned the tide

ALFRETON PALMER MOREWOOD No1 and Clay Cross Brotherhood No2 will meet in the Captains Cup (Team Aggregate) final after contrasting victories in their semi finals with one going down to the wire while the other went to form in rather more comfortable style.
Alfreton travelled to Tansley having taken a 3-2 win in the League a week earlier and were back for a showdown which gave them the chance of competing for end of season silverware.
A tight opener went to the hosts' Joe Neville 69-62 to start proceedings and when son Radford added the next  71-32 things were looking rosy for the home team.
However, a narrow success for Cole Smith by three points and then a 72-31 triumph for Andrew Haggarty (Clay Cross Brotherhood sponsored Player of the Week) meant everything was back on the table in the concluding doubles leg with the gap narrowed to just two points.
And up stepped Haggarty again with partner John Smith to deliver the telling blow for a 66-29 verdict and overall victory by 284-249.

Clay Cross No2 had recently seen off Bolehill No2 with aplomb in the League and it went much the same way on this occasion. 
Mark Bower amassed 92 points in frame one and Lee Shaw and John Roseman both hit the eighty points plus mark in adding to it before Callum Greenfield's run of 31 put the icing on the cake.
Shaw and Damian Woodward also took the pairs leg though it was purely academic by then with the final totals 413 to 229.

Meanwhile, the Jimmy Harper Team Plate got underway for the earlier losers in the above competition, with three of the four ties taking place.
Graham Jones turned back the clock to amass 107 points in Clay Cross Brotherhood No1's 388-248 defeat of Edgefold No3 with Ian McKay and Tony Blant also successful in each of their singles and doubles. Roy Taylor was on target for the vanquished.

Bolehill No1 ran up 400 points exactly while holding Alfreton No2 to 231 with Simon Zoppi and Ian Birks registering 93 and 95 points respectively.
Jack Lowe was the sole victor for the hosts with a 63-58 verdict.

A tighter contest saw Crich Comrades just edge out Edgefold No1 323-299.
Jack Long secured the opener 65-60 before Duncan Harwood responded with a 57-35 victory for the Matlock cuemen.
However, narrow wins for Ade Smith and Nick Berry put the Tramwaymen eight ahead before the final doubles and they teamed up to seal the deal with a 72-56 salvo to win the day.

Jack Lowe continued his stellar season and confirmed himself as the most improved player in the last year as he reached his third competition final partnering John Smith to success in the pairs handicap semi final, defeating last year's winners Rob Muxlow and Richard Ferguson 3-2 which featured runs of 38 from Lowe and 32 from Ferguson.

Captains Cup (Team Aggregate) semi finals: Tansley Potters 249, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 284; Clay Cross Brotherhood No2 413, Bolehill Institute No2 229.
Jimmy Harper Plate (Team Aggregate Consolation) first round: Edgefold Matlock No3 248, Clay Cross Brotherhood No1 388; Crich Comrades 323, Edgefold Matlock No1 299; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 231, Bolehill Institute No1 400.
Breaks (inc. comps): J Lowe 38; R Ferguson 32; C Greenfield 31; D Harwood 24; B Monk 22; D Waring 22; J Roseman 21; S Zoppi 20.
Century points haul: Graham Jones (Clay Cross Brotherhood No1) 107 points.
Clay Cross Brotherhood sponsored Player of the Week: Andrew Haggarty (Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1).

BOLEHILL SECURE BILLIARDS HAT-TRICK IN A THRILLER

KAI HOPKINS ... early strike for Alfreton

BOLEHILL INSTITUTE billiards team secured a hat-trick of silverware by adding the Kenworthy Cup scotch doubles event to their earlier wins in the Classic Gas Bodyshop League and Captains Cup though it was by the skin of their teeth and looked unlikely for much of the contest.
The prolific pairing of Ricki Slack and Andrew Brough trailed for most of the 90 minute contest to the Tansley-based home duo of Joe Neville and Steve Hawkins, at one point falling around forty points adrift but a trio of teen breaks near the conclusion nudged them in front by four points.
With literally only seconds left, Neville managed an in-off from red but there was no further time to reply and the hosts were left agonisingly one point short as the buzzer sounded in a real thriller.

The next day Tansley travelled to play a double header in the League at Mayfield and had mixed results thanks to a 12-10 win and a 14-8 defeat which ultimately meant the Ashbourne duo of Keith Gregory and Mark Jennings took the runners up spot behind Bolehill, though there is still a further game upcoming.

Clay Cross Brotherhood No2 maintained a narrow lead at the top of the T & M Motors Snooker League as they overcame Edgefold No3 4-1.
Callum Greenfield, Lee Shaw and John Roseman all had breaks of 20+ as they raced into a 3-0 lead before James Hemming responded with a 72-40 riposte.
Normal service was resumed in the doubles with Roseman and Shaw taking it 69-45.

Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 bounced back from taking only one point in two games as they defeated Crich Comrades, who had been on a good run, 5-0.
Kai Hopkins (35 break) had them off to a flyer, Dean Bullock made it two on his league debut and Jack Lowe sealed the deal in the next.
Black ball wins for Carlos Zaragoza and the Lowe and Paul Sainsbury combination added the extras, leaving them a point behind the leaders with a game in hand.

Also re-finding their form with a 5-0 win were Bolehill No1 who moved third, usurping Edgefold No2 whom they have now taken maximum points from in their two meetings this term.
Ian Doe took the opener on the black, Colin Marchington added the next and another black ball win for Simon Zoppi in frame three made the game safe, after he had initially seemingly taken the pink for success only to go in-off.
Ricki Slack took the last four colours to take the next 70-48 and then took the pairs leg with Doe for the nap hand.

Tansley Potters, having just returned to the play off positions, were knocked out of them again after going under 3-2 at home to Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1, with the pair meeting again in the Captains Cup semi final this next week.
Andrew Haggarty and John Smith put the visitors two up before Joe Hawkins pulled one back but reserve Paul Longden, brother of Phil, stepped in with an excellent performance to make it 3-1 in the next before the home side reduced the arrears in the doubles.

Bolehill No2 shocked last season's champs Edgefold No1 3-2 as they were looking to get back in the play-off picture, thus earning their third league win of the season.
Rob Muxlow took the first frame on the black but Mick Bunting and Dale Shaw took each of their singles and doubles legs to ensure victory despite Tommy Smith also being on target for the Matlock cuemen.

Clay Cross No1 travelled to Belper Royal British Legion and came back with a 3-2 success. Mark Newby's continued good form saw him on target for the hosts but that win was sandwiched between victories for Graham Jones and Duncan Waring before Steve Bullock levelled.
Waring (32 break) and Jones (20 break) always held sway in the doubles though as they delivered a 77-12 masterclass.

Scott Brooks of Edgefold No2 will contest the Open Individual Handicap with Jack Lowe after defeating Graham Jones 3-1 in the semi final.

T & M Motors Snooker League: Clay Cross Brotherhood No2 4, Edgefold Matlock No3 1; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 5, Crich Comrades 0; Edgefold Matlock No2 0, Bolehill Institute No1 5; Tansley Potters 2, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 3; Bolehill Institute No2 3, Edgefold Matlock No1 2; Belper Royal British Legion 2, Clay Cross Brotherhood No1 3.
Breaks (inc. comps):  K Hopkins 35; D Waring 32; S Brooks 25; G Jones 25,24,20,20; L Shaw 24,24; J Roseman 24;  M Newby 23; R Slack 22; C Greenfield 22; I Doe 20.
Clay Cross Brotherhood sponsored Player of the Week: Mick Bunting (Bolehill No2).

Classic Gas Bodyshop Billiards League: Tansley Potters 12, Mayfield Institute 10 (played at Mayfield); Mayfield Institute 14, Tansley Potters 8.
Kenworthy Cup Billiards scotch doubles final: Tansley Potters ( J Neville / S Hawkins) 182, Bolehill Institute (R Slack / A Brough) 183.

T & M Motors Snooker League        P        W        L      Pts 

Clay Cross Brotherhood No2            19       11         8      59

Alfreton P Morewood No2                 18       13         5      58

Bolehill Institute No1                         19       12         7      54

Edgefold Matlock No2                       19       11         8      54

Tansley Potters                                  18       11         7      51

Belper Royal British Legion               19         9       10      49

Edgefold Matlock No1                       18       10         8      48

Clay Cross Brotherhood No1            18         9         9      45

Alfreton P Morewood No1                 18         9         9      41

Crich Comrades                                19         9       10      40

Edgefold Matlock No3                       19         4       15      31

Bolehill Institute No2                         18         3       15      25

Leading breaks: C Greenfield 52; D Waring 47.
Leading wins: J Lowe 15/18;  M Newby & C Marchington 13/17; J Neville 13/18.

Classic Gas Bodyshop Billiards League       P     W      D       L     Pts
Bolehill Institute                                               12      11      0       1     138
Mayfield Institute                                              11       4       1       6     112
Whitworth Institute                                           12       3       1       8     106
Tansley Potters                                                11       4       0       7       95

Leading breaks: J McCann 91; R Slack 62.
Leading wins: R Slack 10/12; K Gregory 8/11.

CLAY CROSS No2 GO TOP, TANSLEY INTO PLAY-OFF SPOTS

JOE NEVILLE ... black ball victor

WE HAVE new leaders in the T & M Motors Snooker League with Clay Cross Brotherhood No2 completing a 5-0 beating of erstwhile table toppers Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 (now third) while Tansley Potters continued to make ground taking over fourth place from Bolehill No1 whom they defeated 4-1.
The latter contest saw Joe Neville snatch the opener on the black after host player Ian Doe had gone in-off from potting the blue before Colin Marchington took a high quality encounter 70-50 to equalise in the next.
With the black going over a corner pocket surrounded by most of the reds, alot depended on who got in to clear the pocket thereafter in frame three and it was the visitors' Steve Hawkins whose run of 21 from that scenario gave him a firm foothold on the contest, which he eventually took on the blue.
It was soon 3-1 with Joe Hawkins taking the next after the home player conceded 30 adrift with green onwards on the table and an excellent result for the Tansley cuemen was secured when Neville and Hawkins (S) cleared the last three colours with the hosts already needing a snooker.

John Roseman and Mark Bower had Clay Cross two up despite Ben Monk's run of 32 as they usurped the league leaders before a vital 49-48 verdict for Lee Shaw over winning-most player Jack Lowe assured his team of victory.
Callum Greenfield's magnificent 52 break (the highest of the league season so far) added the fourth before he teamed up with Shaw to complete the nap hand to nab the Clay Cross Brotherhood sponsored Player of the Week mantle.

Edgefold No2 lie a point behind in second place but fell 4-1 to last season's champions Edgefold No1.
Tommy Smith bounced back to his best form with breaks of 31 and 29 to seal the win after earlier victories for Rob Muxlow and Duncan Harwood.
Steve Burton added the fourth before Josh Dakin and Reece Johnstone stopped the rot in the concluding doubles leg.

Belper Royal British Legion defeated Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 4-1 with Mark Newby top scoring and Justin Weller victorious on the black afer John Smith had levelled matters early doors.

There was also a 4-1 success for Clay Cross Brotherhood No1 at Edgefold No3 for whom Sam Kniveton struck first with a 56-24 salvo.
Tony Blant, Graham Jones and Duncan Waring hit back with a trio of wins to settle the issue however before the pairs leg also went their way at the end.

The other game saw Crich Comrades continue their recent good form with their own 4-1 victory over Bolehill No2.
Paul Trevett and John Magill put them 2-0 up before Dale Shaw pulled one back.
But victories for Nick Berry and the Paul Hubbard / Jack Long pairs combination confirmed another satisfactory day for the Tramwaymen.

Alfreton's Jack Lowe reached his second individual final with a 3-1 semi final win over John Roseman in the open handicap while Edgefold's Rob Muxlow will be his opponent in the "B" Individual handicap final after his 3-2 comeback defeat of Lee Shaw.

The OMYA Cup individual scratch final will be between current holder Duncan Waring (Clay Cross) and Ricki Slack (Bolehill) who secured 3-1 and 3-0 wins in their semi finals respectively.

T & M Motors Snooker League week 18: Bolehill Institute No1 1, Tansley Potters 4; Clay Cross Brotherhood No2 5, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 0; Edgefold Matlock No1 4, Edgefold Matlock No2 1; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 1, Belper Royal British Legion 4; Edgefold Matlock No3 1, Clay Cross Brotherhood No1 4; Crich Comrades 4, Bolehill Institute No2 1.
Breaks (inc. comps): C Greenfield 52; J Roseman 38,20; B Monk 32; T Smith 31,29; J Smith 24; J Neville 23; S Hawkins 21; R Slack 20.
Clay Cross Brotherhood sponsored Player of the Week: Callum Greenfield (Clay Cross Brotherhood No2).

T & M Motors Snooker League        P        W        L      Pts 

Clay Cross Brotherhood No2            18       10          8      55

Edgefold Matlock No2                       18       11          7      54

Alfreton P Morewood No2                 17       12          5      53

Tansley Potters                                  17       11         6      49

Bolehill Institute No1                         18        11         7      49

Belper Royal British Legion               18         9         9      47

Edgefold Matlock No1                       17       10         7      46

Clay Cross Brotherhood No1            17         8         9      42

Crich Comrades                                18         9         9      40

Alfreton P Morewood No1                 17         8         9      38

Edgefold Matlock No3                       18         4       14      30

Bolehill Institute No2                         17         2       15      22

Leading breaks: C Greenfield 52; D Waring 47.
Leading wins: J Lowe 14/17; J Neville 13/17; M Newby & C Marchington 12/16.

BOLEHILL AT THE DOUBLE AS SNOOKER LEADERS FALTER

ANDREW BROUGH and RICKI SLACK with the Billiards Captains Cup

THERE was a rapidfire double for Bolehill Institute in billiards competition as fresh from their League title secured the previous week, the pairing of Andrew Brough and Ricki Slack added the Captains Cup Team Aggregate event to their mantlepiece though not without having to withstand a great fightback from the Mayfield pairing in the final.
Andrew Brough was off to a flyer against Mark Jennings and eventually ran out a 150-78 winner which meant partner Ricki Slack needed to score 79 to take the spoils against dangerous opponent Keith Gregory.
Sure enough, Gregory had his scoring boots on from the off and running into a sizeable lead aided by a 40 break, looked like he was in with a real chance of turning things around for his team.
However, a run of 30 brought the home player back within shouting distance and although Gregory continued to flow freely thereafter, he was 26 points adrift of his desired target of 150 when Slack struck the winning score.

Meanwhile, there were several shocks in the T & M Motors Snooker League with the top three all tasting defeat with the main beneficaries being Clay Cross Brotherhood No2 and Tansley Potters who closed the gap on the pacesetters.
Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2, who took over top place the previous week, were beaten 4-1 at home by Edgefold No3, with newcomer Steve Birds getting the ball rolling for the visitors in a tight scrap.
Jack Lowe suffered an unfortunate in-off on pink which would have secured the next but Roy Taylor came back to take both balls and make it 2-0 before another black ball decider went to Sam Kniveton for 3-0.
Conrad Spencer added the fourth 58-44 to put the Matlock cuemen on cloud nine before Lowe and Paul Sainsbury finally took the concluding doubles leg.

Edgefold No2 were beaten 3-2 at home by a resurgent Crich Comrades, but moved level on points with the leaders in doing so, albeit having played a game more.
Josh Dakin put the hosts ahead but John Magill (Clay Cross Brotherhood sponsored Player of the Week) amassed 96 points in levelling before Martin Barwick again nudged the Matlock side in front with a 53-14 success.
Nick Berry soon equalised and eventually Magill and Paul Trevett took the deciding pairs leg 52-30.

Bolehill No1 fell 5-0 at Belper Royal British Legion, meaning they took only one point out of ten against their opponents who boosted their mid table position.
Steve Bullock was in excellent form and took his singles and doubles legs along with Mark Newby with the hosts winning three of the five frames on the pink.

Clay Cross No2 took all five points from Bolehill No2 to go within three points of the top in third place with Callum Greenfield notching a run of 29 and John Roseman 22 as he top scored with 89 points.

Tansley Potters edged out last season's champs Edgefold No1 3-2 with the Nevilles, Joe and Radford putting them two to the good, the latter winning on the black.
Two more black ball deciders each went to the visitors, with Duncan Harwood and Steve Burton successful, before Neville (J) and Steve Hawkins decided the issue in the doubles 85-41.

The other league clash saw Clay Cross No1 bounce back to form with a 5-0 defeat of Alfreton PM No1 in which Ian McKay and Tony Blant took each of their singles and doubles contests.

Alfreton No1 themselves hit straight back the following night in the delayed Captains Cup Team Aggregate quarter final as they overcame Edgefold No2 271-227.
Des and John Smith each scored narrow victories before Scott Brooks with a 71-46 win put his side seven points ahead. 
Andrew Haggarty with a 56-35 scoreline put the home side back into the ascendancy and they rubber stamped this in the pairs finale, with Des and Cole Smith taking it 67-37.

In the Denis Morton Pairs Handicap semi final, Steve and Joe Hawkins battled back from 2-0 down to defeat Ian McKay and Graham Jones 3-2 and await the winner of the other contest in the final.

T & M Motors Snooker League week 17: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 1, Edgefold Matlock No3 4; Edgefold Matlock No2 2, Crich Comrades 3; Belper Royal British Legion 5, Bolehill Institute No1 0; Bolehill Institute No2 0, Clay Cross Brotherhood No2 5; Tansley Potters 3, Edgefold No1 2; Clay Cross Brotherhood No1 5, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 0.
Captains Cup Team Aggregate (Snooker) quarter final: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 271, Edgefold Matlock No2 227. 
Breaks: C Greenfield 29; G Jones 25; J Roseman 22; J Dakin 22; J Magill 22: S Zoppi 20.
Clay Cross Brotherhood sponsored Player of the Week: John Magill (Crich Comrades).

Captains Cup Team Aggregate (Billiards) final: Bolehill Institute beat Mayfield Institute by 26pts.
Breaks: K Gregory 40, R Slack 30.

T & M Motors Snooker League        P        W        L      Pts 

Alfreton P Morewood No2                 16       12         4      53

Edgefold Matlock No2                       17       11         6      53

Clay Cross Brotherhood No2            17         9         8      50

Bolehill Institute No1                         17        11         6      48

Tansley Potters                                  16       10         6      45

Belper Royal British Legion               17         8         9      43

Edgefold Matlock No1                       16         9         7      42

Clay Cross Brotherhood No1            16         7         9      38

Alfreton P Morewood No1                 16         8         8      37

Crich Comrades                                17         8         9      36

Edgefold Matlock No3                       17         4       13      29

Bolehill Institute No2                         16         2       13      21

Leading breaks: D Waring 47, I McKay 46.
Leading wins: J Lowe 14/16; J Neville & M Barwick 12/16.

BOLEHILL CONTINUE SUCCESSES IN BILLIARDS LEAGUE

RICKI SLACK and ANDREW BROUGH ... billiards champs

BOLEHILL INSTITUTE continued their impressive recent record in the Classic Gas Bodyshop Billiards League by securing the title for the third time in four years (jointly held in 2024) as well as finishing runners-up last season as they defeated Tansley Potters 14-7 in an entertaining contest.
A ripsnorting opening battle between Andrew Brough and Joe Neville swung to and fro with the latter's 40 break putting him one in front before Brough pulled twenty ahead on the cusp of victory.
His opponent fought back strongly however, and was only a couple of scores away from success himself but a narrowly missed in-off allowed the Bolehill player back in to score the winning cannon.
Ricki Slack therefore needed only 25pts to ensure top spot for his team and a 62 break on only his second visit soothed any remaining nerves before eventually taking the spoils 150-52, in the process registering most individual wins for the season with 10 from 12 games.

In the T & M Motors Snooker League, Brough was also pressed into action for Bolehill No2 as reserve due to shortages and he put his side ahead with a vintage display at new league leaders Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2.
That was as good as it got for them however, with young Kai Hopkins racking up a century points haul to equalise and earn himself the Clay Cross Brotherhood sponsored Player of the Week title, Jack Lowe (33 break) and Adam Cupit sealing the deal with rapidfire successes.
Lowe then teamed up with Ben Monk in the pairs leg to put the icing on the cake for 4-1.

Long term pacesetters Edgefold No2 fell 4-1 at fourth placed Clay Cross Brotherhood No2.
Mark Bower (20 break) and Callum Greenfield (27 break) soon had the home side 2-0 to the good and despite a black ball win for the ever consistent Scott Brooks, Lee Shaw then took each of his singles and doubles legs, teaming up with John Roseman to edge the four-hander on the black.

Bolehill Institute No1 continued their excellent recent run with a 4-1 defeat of Clay Cross Brotherhood No1.
Ian Doe and Ricki Slack both grafted for hard earned successes before Duncan Waring reduced the arrears for the visitors in the next.
But Ian Birks was successful in each of his singles and doubles contests, latterly with Slack who settled the issue with a clearance from green onwards.

Tansley Potters lie just outside the play off positions but with a game in hand after their 3-2 loss at a resurgent Crich Comrades.
Nick Berry put the Tramwaymen in front and two re-spotted black finishes were shared in the next two frames with Radford Neville and John Magill each taking the spoils.
A convincing triumph for Paul Trevett steered his side over the line before the two Joes, Neville and Hawkins pulled one back in the concluding doubles.

Edgefold No1 defeated Belper Royal British Legion 3-2 despite Mark Newby striking first for the visitors with a dominant 58-8 scoreline.
Rob Muxlow and Steve Burton then nudged the home side in front and although Wayne Shooter levelled, that pairing also held sway in the four-hander at the end.

The remaining game saw Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 end a barren run with a 4-1 victory at Edgefold No3.
Des and Cole Smith soon had the Amber Valley cuemen two up before James Hemming pulled one back for the hosts. It was 3-1 courtesy of Andrew Haggarty shortly afterwards and Smith (D) and Longden wrapped up proceedings similarly on the front foot.

Jack Lowe reached the final of the "B" (Intermediate) Individual Handicap with a battling 3-2 win over Ian Doe and still has chances in the Open Individual and Pairs Handicap to come.

T & M Motors Snooker League: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 4, Bolehill Institute No2 1; Clay Cross Brotherhood No2 4, Edgefold Matlock No2 1; Bolehill Institute No1 4, Clay Cross Brotherhood No1 1; Crich Comrades 3, Tansley Potters 2; Edgefold Matlock No1 3, Belper Royal British Legion 2; Edgefold Matlock No3 1, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 4.
Breaks (inc. comps): J Lowe 33,22; C Greenfield 27; K Hopkins 26; R Slack 25; R Muxlow 23; A Brough 22; M Bower 20.
Century points haul / Player of the Week: Kai Hopkins (Alfreton P Morewood No2) 111.

Classic Gas Bodyshop Billiards League: Bolehill Institute 12, Tansley Potters 7.
Breaks: R Slack 62; J Neville 40.

T & M Motors Snooker League        P        W        L      Pts 

Alfreton P Morewood No2                 15       12         3      52

Edgefold Matlock No2                       16       11         5      51

Bolehill Institute No1                         16       11         5      48

Clay Cross Brotherhood No2            16         8         8      45

Tansley Potters                                  15         9         6      42

Edgefold Matlock No1                       15         9         6      40

Belper Royal British Legion               16         7         9      38

Alfreton P Morewood No1                 15         8         7      37

Crich Comrades                                16         7         9      33

Clay Cross Brotherhood No1            15         6         9      33

Edgefold Matlock No3                       16         3       13      25

Bolehill Institute No2                         15         2       13      21

Leading breaks: D Waring 47, I McKay 46.
Leading wins: J Lowe 14/15; C Marchington 11/14; J Neville & M Barwick 11/15.

Classic Gas Bodyshop Billiards League       P     W      D       L     Pts
Bolehill Institute                                               12      11      0       1     138
Whitworth Institute                                           12       3       1       8    106
Mayfield Institute                                                9       3       1       5     88
Tansley Potters                                                  9       3       0       6      75

Leading breaks: J McCann 91; R Slack 62.
Leading wins: R Slack 10/12; J McCann 7/12.

ALFRETON No2 CLOSE IN ON EDGEFOLD No2 AT THE TOP

BEN MONK ... singles & doubles wins

THE RETURN of T & M Motors Snooker League action heralded a blockbuster clash between the top two in the table as Edgefold No2 entertained Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2, who before the match lay five points behind with a game in hand.
Scott Brooks, fresh from qualifying for the Open Handicap semi final the previous night, took the opener for the hosts with a 59-31 verdict before a run of three black ball games decided the contest in favour of the visitors.
Kai Hopkins took the last three balls to snatch a 49-40 win to equalise and then Jack Lowe did likewise for a 57-55 success.
An in-off on black for Reece Johnstone meant Ben Monk sealed the deal with a 70-67 scoreline and he then teamed up with Lowe to make it 4-1 with a more comfortable doubles victory of 67-26 complete with a run of 29, earning him the Clay Cross Brotherhood sponsored Player of the Week accolade.

Bolehill Institute No1 reeled off the first four frames at Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 with Ian Doe's 22 clearance the highlight and Ricki Slack top scoring before John and Des Smith stopped the rot with a convincing win in the concluding doubles leg.

Tansley Potters edged out Clay Cross Brotherhood 3-2 with the Nevilles, Radford and Joe putting them two up early doors and although John Roseman (runs of 24 and 22) and Callum Greenfield pulled it level at 2-2, Steve Hawkins and Neville (J) edged the pairs contest 60-45 to sneak the win.

Clay Cross Brotherhood No1 saw off Edgefold No1 4-1 with dual Derbyshire champ Graham Jones celebrating his 82nd birthday and tasting victory with Duncan Waring in the doubles to complete a successful evening for the hosts.
Ian McKay (22 break) put them ahead early doors and although Duncan Harwood equalised, wins for Tony Blant and Waring meant there was no comeback forthcoming.

Crich Comrades took a 3-2 win from Belper Royal British Legion.
Wayne Shooter took the opener on the black before Paul Hubbard equalised and Paul Trevett took a cliffhanger on the black in frame three. Mark Newby thereafter levelled but Nick Berry and Trevett battled hard to secure a 52-44 doubles triumph and overall victory.

In a re-match of the previous week's cup battle, Bolehill No2 again defeated Edgefold No3 but once again by the narrowest of margins.
Sam Kniveton and Dale Shaw shared the first two frames before James Hemming nudged the visitors ahead at 2-1.
However, black ball wins for Mick Bunting in his singles and then in the doubles with Paul Young completed the turnaround for 3-2.

Top break in the competitions came from John Roseman with an excellent 40.

In the Classic Gas Bodyshop Billiards League, Bolehill Institute's 12-8 victory over Tansley Potters leaves them at the cusp of taking the Championship though Mayfield still have a mathematical chance at least after their own 12-6 defeat of Whitworth Institute which saw runs of 42 for Jim McCann and 31 for Keith Gregory.

T & M Motors Snooker League: Edgefold Matlock No2 1, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 4; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 1, Bolehill Institute No1 4; Tansley Potters 3, Clay Cross Brotherhood No2 2; Clay Cross Brotherhood No1 4, Edgefold Matlock No1 1; Belper Royal British Legion 2, Crich Comrades 3; Bolehill Institute No2 3, Edgefold Matlock No3 2.
Breaks (inc. comps):  J Roseman 40,24,22,20; R Slack 31; B Monk 29,22; R Johnstone 25; S Brooks 23;C Greenfield 22; I Doe 22; I McKay 22.
Clay Cross Brotherhood Player of the Week: Ben Monk (Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2).

Classic Gas Bodyshop Billiards League: Tansley Potters 8, Bolehill Institute 12; Mayfield Institute 12, Whitworth Institute 6.
Breaks: J McCann 42; K Gregory 31.

T & M Motors Snooker League        P        W        L      Pts 

Edgefold Matlock No2                       15       11         4      50

Alfreton P Morewood No2                 14       11         3      48

Bolehill Institute No1                         15       10         5      44

Clay Cross Brotherhood No2            15         7         8      41

Tansley Potters                                  14         9         5      40

Edgefold Matlock No1                       14         8         6      37

Belper Royal British Legion               15         7         8      36

Alfreton P Morewood No1                 14         7         7      33

Clay Cross Brotherhood No1            14         6         8      32

Crich Comrades                                15         6         9      30

Edgefold Matlock No3                       15         3       12      24

Bolehill Institute No2                         14         2       12      20

Leading breaks: D Waring 47, I McKay 46.
Leading wins: J Lowe 13/14; J Neville, C Marchington & M Barwick 11/13.

Classic Gas Bodyshop Billiards League       P     W      D       L     Pts
Bolehill Institute                                               11     10       0       1    124
Whitworth Institute                                           12       3       1       8    106
Mayfield Institute                                                9       3       1       5     88
Tansley Potters                                                  8       3       0       5      68

Leading breaks: J McCann 91; M Jennings 51.
Leading wins: R Slack 9/11; J McCann 7/12.