ALL-BOLEHILL CUP FINAL CREATES LEAGUE HISTORY

HISTORY was made this week when for the first time ever, both teams from Bolehill Institute will contest the Captains Cup Team Aggregate final, ensuring a fitting end of season tribute to the memory of the late club president and chairman Alan Hopkinson.
First up in the semis were current holders Bolehill No 1, who faced a tough assignment at Belper Strutt Club against league leaders Marehay Miners Welfare, who had  been on course for a Grand Slam of all four team trophies.

RICKI SLACK got Bolehill No 1 off to the best possible start.

The opening joust saw Ricki Slack triumph in the battle of the captains against ace counterpart Ben Monk by an 80-31 scoreline with some impressive long-potting being the catalyst.

Andrew Gratton set about reducing the deficit with an early 29 break but unluckily knocked in the pink when potting the green and this had a profound effect on the frame later on with Colin Marchington taking pink and black to take it 79-69.

Lee Whatton did make some inroads in the next though as he saw off Simon Zoppi 69-42 before Ian Birks, battling through illness, scored a doughty 74-31 win over Andrew Beardsley in frame four to increase the aggregate margin to 75pts with just the doubles to play.

And though Monk briefly raised Marehay hopes with an early contribution of 34, the bar was ultimately set too high by this stage and Bolehill held on for a 41-point victory.

Bolehill No 2 took on Matlock's Edgefold Club the following day at Jaxx Q Club, but were on the receiving end in the opener as Richard Ferguson (breaks of 24 and 22) defeated Martin Forster 86-40.

IAN PEACOCK turned the game on its head for Bolehill No 2.

The game was turned on its head in the next though as a barnstorming effort from Ian Peacock saw him earn a 93-22 success over Rob Muxlow and then Keith Robertson took pink and black to pip Duncan Harwood 60-59.

Neil Parkinson put the match right back in the balance by defeating Mick Bunting 71-46 to leave Bolehill just 1pt up going into the doubles.

But Robertson (24 break) and Peacock were in no mood to falter and scored a 38-point victory to earn their team a final place with the clock ticking rapidly towards midnight.

Elsewhere, a thrilling Jimmy Harper Plate encounter saw Belper Strutt Club No 2 edge out Matlock Golf Club by 298-278.

Dave Needham and Chris Stubbs won both their singles and doubles frames while Ian McKay was in fine form for the visitors.

And in the sole League match this week, Jaxx Q Club of Belper saw off Gladiators Social Club of Matlock 3-2 on the final black after Guy Shirley inadvertently snookered himself on the pink when potting frame ball blue.

The escape attempt failed to bear fruit and then Kevin Holmes took pink and black for what had looked an unlikely success.

Steve Robinson with a couple of 25 breaks had levelled the scores at 2-2 after Mark Gwynne-Jones had put the hosts ahead prior to that.

Captains Cup Semi Finals: Bolehill Inst No 1 325, Marehay MW / PJ'z 284 (at Strutt); Bolehill Inst No 2 291, Edgefold Matlock 252 (at Jaxx).
Jimmy Harper Plate 1st round: Belper Strutt No 2 298, Matlock Golf Club 278.
League: Gladiators SC Matlock 2, Jaxx Q Club Belper 3.
Breaks: B Monk 34; A Gratton 29; S Robinson 25,25; R Ferguson 24,22;
K Robertson 24; R Slack 23; I Peacock 22; M Gwynne-Jones 20.