BOLEHILL No1 TAKE PAIRS LEG TO MAKE EARLY RUNNING

IAN DOE ... excelled in deciding doubles leg

WITH Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 team not in action this week, Bolehill Institute No1 had the chance to go outright top as they travelled to Edgefold No3 in week three of the T & M Motors Snooker League with enhanced sponsorship from Lowes Catering Ltd.
Colin Marchington took the opener 48-20 with a gritty display before an excellent performance from James Hemming levelled matters at 1-1, taking a 58-14 verdict on his first appearance of the season.
Ricki Slack nudged his team back in front, ultimately fluking match ball blue to secure a 63-35 scoreline in his favour but again the home side fought back strongly with Jacob Bradbury levelling at 2-2 as he clipped the pink into the middle pocket for a 63-47 win.
The  deciding doubles leg however saw Bolehill's Ian Doe go into overdrive with a virtuoso potting performance, ultimately unlucky to have his break of 25 cut short when potting the black but touching a red in the process with plenty more to go at. Nevertheless, he partnered captain Slack to a 70-44 success and steer the Wirksworth cuemen to the top of the table early doors.

Clay Cross Brotherhood No1 secured their second successive impressive win and now go second after a 4-1 defeat of Crich Comrades No2.
Gareth Rudkin continued his promising start for the Tramwaymen as he was fast out of the blocks for a 65-39 triumph but the visitors took over thereafter, taking all four remaining frames.
Tony Blant, Graham Jones and Duncan Waring all came through tight contests before Waring and Duane Parsons took the doubles leg with a bit more to spare.

Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 took victory in their opening match after a delayed start as they took the spoils 3-2 at Tansley Potters.
The Nevilles, Joe and Radford had put the hosts two up in a match that was switched from the scheduled venue on Hall Street but the Amber Valley cuemen fought back to turn it around as Andrew Haggarty (Clay Cross Brotherhood sponsored Player of the Week) and John Smith won each of their singles as well as the doubles leg.

Edgefold No1 also switched their fixture to Belper Royal British Legion but it didn't stop them recording a 3-2 verdict.
Scott Brooks (25 break) and Mark Newby shared the opening frames but Duncan Harwood and Steve Burton (33 break) both took battling wins to seal the deal before Newby (23 break) and Wayne Shooter reduced the arrears in the pairs leg.

Edgefold No2 defeated Bolehill No2 3-2 although it was a good night for the hosts' Ben Langford who was successful in each of his singles and doubles legs in his first full appearance, having only featured in the pairs previously.
Richard Ferguson, Ross Muxlow (on the black) and Fin Harvey were on target for the victors.

In the other match, Clay Cross Brotherhood No2 showed they are again likely to be tough opposition for all despite the setback of a first week loss, as they powered into top form defeating Crich Comrades No1 5-0.
Damian Woodward top scored while John Roseman (23 break) and Mark Bower took each of their doubles and singles legs.

League week 3: Edgefold Matlock No3 2, Bolehill Institute No1 3; Crich Comrades No2 1, Clay Cross Brotherhood No2 4; Tansley Potters 2, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 3; Belper Royal British Legion 2, Edgefold Matlock No1 3; Bolehill Institute No2 2, Edgefold Matlock No2 3; Clay Cross Brotherhood No2 5, Crich Comrades No1 0. Bye week: Alfreton PM No 2.
Breaks: Steve Burton 33; Scott Brooks 25; Ian Doe 25; Mark Newby 23; John Roseman 23; Richard Ferguson 22.
Clay Cross Brotherhood sponsored Player of the Week: Andrew Haggarty (Alfreton PM No1).

CLICK FOR LEAGUE TABLE

Leading wins: J Neville, R Slack, G Rudkin & S Burton 3/3.
Leading breaks: C Marchington 44; S Burton 33.

"FERGY" RETURNS TO LIFT EDGEFOLD No2 OVER THE LINE

RICHARD FERGUSON ... singles and doubles successes

THE second round of T & M Motors Snooker League matches (with additional sponsorship from Lowes Catering Ltd) took place recently and there was a thrilling night for the newly formed Edgefold No2 team who defeated last season's runners-up and dual cup winners Clay Cross Brotherhood No2 3-2.
Richard Ferguson, with runs of 31 and 21 ended the long winning streak of Callum Greenfield running back into last season and although Mark Bower requalised with a 67-37 riposte, a black ball victory for Josh Lee put the home side 2-1 ahread with two to play.
Damian Woodward, who had a ding dong battle with Rob Muxlow in the individual competitions last season, served up another thriller as he took the next on the black 58-56 to equalise but ultimately it was Ferguson again teaming up with Fin Harvey who steered the Matlock cuemen to an excellent success.
"Fergy" takes this weeks Clay Cross Brotherhood sponsored Player of the Week award on his return to action after having his season curtailed through injury niggles last time around.

Tansley Potters also prevailed 3-2 over Crich Comrades No2.
The Nevilles, Joe and Radford soon had the hosts 2-0 up but the Tramwaymen battled back with a black ball win for Gareth Rudkin, thanks to a 22 clearance, and then captain Paul Hubbard taking the next.
The two Joes, Neville and Hawkins steered the home side over the line in the pairs though.

The other tight battle saw Edgefold No1 take a 3-2 win from Crich Comrades No1.
Steve Burton edged the opener 62-51 before Paul Trevett and then Ade Smith on the black saw the hosts go in front.
However, Burton appearing again as reserve, levelled at 2-2 before Duncan Harwood and Martin Barwick edged home in a tight deciding doubles leg 56-46.

Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 took their second successive 4-1 win, this time at Belper Royal British Legion with Nathan Brown and Wayne Shooter sharing the early frames.
Kai Hopkins with an 85-32 success and Jack Lowe with a 22 clearance giving him a 69-62 verdict - despite earlier runs of 30 and 25 from opponent Justin Weller - were highlights of the eveing.
Lowe and Brown then teamed up to take the doubles 66-46.

The other games saw 5-0 home wins for Bolehill No1 and Clay Cross Brotherhood No1 respectively.
Bolehill defeated their No2 team with a bit to spare on the night, Colin Marchington's 25 break setting the tone with solid performances down the line while Edgefold No3 were held pointless at Clay Cross.
Tony Blant took the second frame on the black and there was a high scoring contest in frame four which saw Duncan Waring take an 86-69 victory.

League week 02: Edgefold Matlock No2 3, Clay Cross Brotherhood No2 2; Tansley Potters 3, Crich Comrades No2 2; Crich Comrades No1 2, Edgefold Matlock No1 3; Belper Royal British Legion 1, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 4; Bolehill Institute No1 5, Bolehill Institute No2 0; Clay Cross Brotherhood No1 5, Edgefold Matlock No3 0.
Breaks: Richard Ferguson 31,21; Justin Weller 30,25; Colin Marchington 25; Jack Lowe 22; Gareth Rudkin 22.
Clay Cross Brotherhood sponsored Player of the Week: Richard Ferguson (Edgefold Matlock No2).

FATHER AND SON TIP THE SCALES FOR TANSLEY POTTERS

JOE NEVILLE ... age no barrier

THE NEW T & M Motors Snooker League season got underway boosted with extra sponsorship towards trophies and prize money from Lowes Catering Ltd and the usual Player of the Week sponsors Clay Cross Brotherhood back on board, we thank them all in the opening week.
Tansley Potters, who narrowly missed out on the end of season play offs last season travelled to the revamped Edgefold No1 team with the Matlock club mixing up their players in all three teams from last season.
Scott Brooks (20 break) took the opener 80-42 as he returned to the first team with some aplomb before Steve Hawkins' 25 clearance saw him equalise with a 68-48 win.
Age is still no barrier for league stalwart Joe Neville in his 83rd year, and he put in a sterling performance to give the visitors the lead with a 70-42 success.
Steve Burton levelled matters at 2-2 with a 51-25 salvo but eventually it was the father and son partnership of Joe and Radford Neville who carried their side to an opening day win thanks to a 69-26 scoreline.

Colin Marchington of Bolehill No1 makes the early running in the highest break chart though his excellent effort of 44 at Belper Royal British Legion came at a stage when he was trailing 47-0 and indeed it was opponent Steve Bullock who took the frame on the pink to put his side one-nil up with a 72-60 verdict.
Ricki Slack and Simon Zoppi then nudged the visitors 2-1 ahead before Justin Weller levelled playing a second frame as reserve with the home side short on the opening day.
However, a scrappy deciding pairs leg saw Slack and Ian Birks prevail on the pink for a 3-2 Bolehill win.

Bolehill No2 were also off to a good start with a 3-2 home win over newly formed Crich Comrades No2. Paul Hubbard and Gareth Rudkin had put the visitors two up but a black-ball win from Paul Young kept the home side in the hunt and then Darren Bunting levelled before the pair teamed up to deliver a thrilling comeback win.

Yet another tight game saw Crich Comrades No1 defeat Edgefold No2 3-2 on School Lane.
Fin Harvey secured the opener on the black for the Matlock cuemen before Nick Berry and Paul Trevett flipped the match on its hinges to put the home side 2-1 up.
Josh Lee on his return to snooker combat levelled things up but ultimately it was Ade Smith and Berry who saw the Tramwaymen over the line 48-14.

The other game saw last seasons champions Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 starting as if they mean business again with a 4-1 defeat of Clay Cross Brotherhood No1.
With several of the team involved in the 24 hour snooker fundraiser a few days earlier, they came into the game well practiced and it showed on the night.
Duane Parsons had given the hosts the lead but that was as good as it got with Jack Lowe and Paul Sainsbury scoring black ball victories and then Nathan Brown (Clay Cross Brotherhood sponsored Player of the Week) putting in a stunning performance with a 90 points to nine win to seal the overall success.
He then teamed up with Sainsbury to add the doubles leg for good measure.

League week 1: Edgefold Matlock No1 2, Tansley Potters 3; Belper RBL 2, Bolehill Institute No1 3; Bolehill Institute No2 3, Crich Comrades No2 2; Crich Comrades No1 3, Edgefold Matlock No2 2; Clay Cross Brotherhood No1 1, Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 4; Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 v Clay Cross Brotherhood No2 postponed. Bye week: Edgefold Matlock No3.
Breaks: Colin Marchington 44; Steve Hawkins 25; Justin Weller 22; Ricki Slack 21; Scott Brooks 20.
Clay Cross Brotherhood sponsored Player of the Week: Nathan Brown (Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2).

JACK & JIM WIN REMAINING SNOOKER & BILLIARDS FINALS

JACK LOWE .... "B" individual handicap winner

THE REMAINING delayed finals in snooker and billiards formats took place this week with Jack Lowe of Alfreton Palmer Morewood taking on Edgefold's Rob Muxlow in the "B" Intermediate Individual Handicap and Whitworth's Jim McCann up against Tansley's Joe Neville in the three-ball game's Williams Cup.
Lowe had come through contests with Reece Johnstone, Andrew Haggarty, Trevor Wright and Ian Doe to reach the final showdown while Muxlow had seen off Sam Kniveton, Alex Fisher and Lee Shaw after an initial bye.
There was a gathering of a fair few people to see the climax at Tansley Potters which turned out to be more of a tactical affair rather than producing any high scoring visits in a match where the players mutually agreed to play a best of 7 rather than the usual best of 5 in this particular event.
Lowe took the first two frames 51-22 and 53-25 in similar vein with Rob not really getting his cue arm going from positions near the baulk cushion.
The third frame was more open with a fair few misses and free balls to boot boosting the totals, but Muxlow was still requiring three snookers on the colours and despite getting two of them, the Amber Valley cueman pulled away again at the end to take it 89-57.
A much more even fourth frame ensued thereafter with the scores locked together at 52 apiece but again it was Lowe who kept his cool to slot home the pink and black and take it 65-52 for a 4-0 success.
This completes a stellar season for the league's most improved player perhaps ever in the space of a few months, having not previously won an individual trophy, this now being his fifth major prize of the season comprising the  open handicap, the pairs handicap (with John Smith), most individual wins in the league with 17 out of 22 and his team also taking the League Championship.

JIM McCANN ... billiards handicap winner

Jim McCann lifted the Williams Cup (Billiards Individual Handicap) also at Tansley with a convincing 139-36 success after 75 minutes, rubber stamped by a 38 break, confirming his good recent form after a run to the semi finals in the English Over 60s plate competition recently whereas Neville, also runner-up in this event last year, had not had much in the way of competitive play of late.

"B" Intermediate Individual Handicap final: Jack Lowe (Alfreton Palmer Morewood) 4, Rob Muxlow (Edgefold Matlock) 0 (at Tansley Potters): 51-22; 53-25; 89-57; 65-52.
Williams Cup (Billiards Individual Handicap) final: Joe Neville (Tansley Potters) 36, Jim McCann (Whitworth Institute) 139 (at Tansley Potters). Breaks: Jim McCann 38.

BOLEHILL No1 DEFY THE HEAT TO BREAK NINE-YEAR DUCK

BOLEHILL INSTITUTE No1 2025/26 Jimmy Harper Plate winners
L-R: Ian Birks, Ricki Slack, Simon Zoppi and Andrew Brough.
Also played: Ian Doe and Colin Marchington.

BOLEHILL INSTITUTE No1 were back amongst the silverware after a gap of nine years as they defeated a depleted Clay Cross Brotherhood No1 line-up to win the Jimmy Harper Plate (Team Aggregate Consolation) for the first time in the club's history, having twice been runners-up previously, including in one of the COVID hit campaigns when the match was carried over into the next pre-season.
With their squad not avid summer practicers, they were keen to avoid similar circumstances this time around with their opponents dealing with a clutch of holidays, so a weeks delay was agreed to allow as many Clay Cross players as possible to take part in at least one of their two finals, they having been narrowly beaten in the six red cup early that previous week.
However, due to unforeseen circumstances, things did not go to plan either with the extreme weather conditions or the home team players availability, and a less than ideal contest ensued in very warm temperatures.
Only Duane Parsons and Graham Jones made the gig for the hosts in the end though no one in the Bolehill team was counting their chickens having lost in a previous season to an Edgefold duo under the same circumstances.
Parsons opened up against Ian Doe, and a tight battle ensued with free flowing snooker at a premium due to the sticky conditions but it was the Bolehill player who prevailed courtesy of a good pot on the black to take it 45-40.
Ricki Slack took on veteran Graham Jones in the next and largely held sway throughout with a couple of teen breaks though the Clay Cross veteran forced a couple of fouls from snookers late in the frame before the Bolehill cueman doubled the black for a 69-43 success.
Jones stepped up again for the next, and giving up the extra ten points for playing twice, had to succumb 67-42 to Simon Zoppi who began to find his potting range more and more as the frame progressed.
So a gradual lead of 56 had been built up by the time of the fourth frame with Parsons turning out again against Ian Birks off level due to the revised handicap.
However, the conditions began to take their toll on the home player with smooth cueing becoming difficult to attain while Birks, arriving later in the evening, actually played some of his best snooker of the season in powering to a 92-7 success embellished by a 22 clearance at the end.
A 141 lead was therefore enough for the white flag to be held aloft, with the pairs leg being promptly conceded for an overall 333-132 result with Birks undefeated in the three games of the competition; his team's previous victories coming over Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 plus a memorable comeback win at Crich Comrades in the semi final.

Meanwhile, the recent English Over 60s Billiards Championship run again at Derby's Cueball saw league players Jim McCann and Ricki Slack put up decent showings with Jim reaching the semi final of the Plate competition and Ricki progressing to the second round proper of the main event.
Jim went under by just seven points 152-145 to eventual main event semi finalist Terry MacAdam and then had wins over Paul Wood (179-124) and Eva Palmius (237-111) in the Plate before falling 169-131 to eventual winner Ron Bickerdike, who ran in a 72 break.
Ricki defeated 2019 over-60s champion Mick Cooper 203-173 with a break of 45 before running into twice English amateur champion Phil Welham who as expected was too hot to handle, the latter securing a 369-143 verdict including runs of 98 (from his first visit in open play) and 76 amongst others.

Jimmy Harper Plate (Team Aggregate Consolation) final: Clay Cross Brotherhood No1 132, Bolehill Institute No1 333.
Breaks: Ian Birks 22 (Clay Cross Brotherhood sponsored Player of the Week).

CLAY CROSS No2 & EDGEFOLD No1 COLLECT THE SPOILS

CLAY CROSS BROTHERHOOD No2 Jaeger Trophy play-off winners 2025/26
L-R: Mark Bower, John Roseman, Callum Greenfield and Lee Shaw.

EDGEFOLD MATLOCK No1 - Bob McCartin Six Red Cup winners 2025/26
L-R: Tommy Smith, Duncan Harwood, Steve Burton, Richard Ferguson and Rob Muxlow.

TWO MAJOR finals were contested this week with the Jaeger Trophy league play offs coming to a conclusion at Crich Comrades fought out between the league's top two teams who finished level on points in the regular season and the Edgefold Club hosting the Bob McCartin Six Red Cup showdown which was deferred from earlier in the season.
Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 had pipped Clay Cross Brotherhood No2 to the league title on the most wins rule and in the meantime both had scored convincing victories in the play off semi finals over Edgefold No2 and Bolehill No1 respectively.
Callum Greenfield, who has taken his play to a higher level in the second part of the season, was again in imperious form as he took the opener for Clay Cross reeling off his twelfth straight win with a run of 20 - just one of a string of contributions in that period - as he delivered an 81-23 success.
The second frame was the tightest and most pivotal of the night with Jack Lowe, most successful player of the current season, up against Mark Bower but after a tense battle it was the Clay Cross cueman who fired home the deciding black for a 47-46 verdict and a 2-0 lead.
And a high quality third frame saw Lee Shaw (22 break) battle hard to edge out hotshot youngster Kai Hopkins by taking brown, blue and pink for a 60-47 success and a win for the team in straight frames.

The six red contest played simultaneously saw Edgefold No1 taking on Clay Cross No1 with Rob Muxlow taking an extended opening frame 44-14 before Tony Blant equalised with a 37-13 salvo.
Veteran Graham Jones (25 break) has been in an excellent run of form lately and he engineered a 38-27 success to put Clay Cross into the lead but a black ball win for Tommy Smith 37-36 kept the scores level again.
All was down to the scotch doubles events, and Smith stayed on the table to partner Muxlow to a 46-22 victory and put his team on the verge of lifting the trophy.
However, Blant and Duane Parsons were having none of it and came back strongly to equalise again before Steve Burton and Smith (Clay Cross Brotherhood sponsored Player of the Week) finally saw the Matlock side home with Burton potting a sublime long pink after Smith had doubled the blue for a 41-20 success and overall 4-3 victory.

Jaeger Trophy play-off final: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 0, Clay Cross Brotherhood No2 3 (at Crich Comrades).
Bob McCartin Six Red Cup final: Edgefold Matlock No1 4, Clay Cross Brotherhood No1 3 (at Edgefold Club, Matlock).
Breaks: G Jones 25; L Shaw 22; C Greenfield 20.
Clay Cross Brotherhood sponsored Player of the Week: Tommy Smith (Edgefold No1).

ALFRETON PM No2 & CLAY CROSS No2 TO MEET IN FINAL

MARK BOWER put Clay Cross No2 ahead

THERE was a calm before the storm as three semi finals took place before the main showdowns at the end of the T & M Motors Snooker League season with the Jaeger Trophy playoffs taking centre stage alongside the remaining Jimmy Harper Cup fixture.
The league champions Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 took on fourth placed Edgefold No2 in the end of season top tier competition and were firm favourites with the Matlock side having struggled for personnel in recent weeks and were again missing hotshots Scott Brooks and Reece Johnstone for this encounter.
Ben Monk took the opener for the hosts 82-58 in what looked one of the toughest match-ups of the night with last season's open handicap winner Josh Dakin.
Young Kai Hopkins added the next with a 78-35 success and the outcome was secured with Jack Lowe's 55-13 win in frame three, which meant a tenth consecutive occasion the team at the summit had made the final.
Carlos Zaragoza made it four as he spoiled the return of Trevor Wright who was back from an enforced layoff before Lowe and Hopkins completed the nap hand in the doubles.

Bolehill Institute No1 travelled to runners-up Clay Cross Brotherhood No1 bidding to improve on their less than stellar play-off record but it was Mark Bower who struck first for the hosts with a 67-37 salvo.
Ricki Slack (55 break) was in his best form for some time to equalise, having been unlucky earlier in the frame when in splitting the pack from the black, he saw the cue ball disappear in-off but recovered in fine fashion to engineer a 85-18 success.
However, that was as good as it got with John Roseman (21 break) re-asserting the home team's advantage with a hard fought 77-47 victory and then Callum Greenfield (29 break) always holding sway to seal the deal with a 68-30 win and leave Bolehill with just one final appearance (albeit a winning one) from 12 play-off ventures.

There was drama in the Jimmy Harper Plate contest, with Belper Royal British Legion thinking they had snatched overall victory when potting the black in the doubles leg but there had been an error in scoring and the incorrect target had been set meaning it was the hosts Clay Cross No 1 who were actually still in front.
The select committee deemed a replay of that leg later in the week to be the fairest option, but the Clay Cross pair of Duncan Waring and Graham Jones made no mistake in that so the result stood.
Wayne Shooter edged the opener on the black before an 88-49 Graham Jones riposte was followed by Tony Blant's 57-42 success.
Justin Weller, turning out for the second time as the reserve, took a 67-46 triumph to keep them in the hunt but ultimately it was to no avail when the mathematics were finally sorted.

Jaeger Trophy play off semi finals: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 5, Edgefold Matlock No2 0; Clay Cross Brotherhood No2 3, Bolehill Institute No1 1.
Jimmy Harper Plate (Team Aggregate Consolation) semi final: Clay Cross Brotherhood No1 293, Belper Royal British Legion 290.
Breaks: R Slack (Clay Cross Brotherhood sponsored player of the week) 55; C Greenfield 29; J Roseman 21.