LEADING CONTENDERS DEFY WEATHER TO SCORE WINS

JOHN SMITH levelled for Alfreton but Strutt struck back

THREE matches in the Ashford Arms Premier League beat the weather last week and Belper Strutt Club maintained their top of the table position albeit on most games won after Edgefold No 1 drew level on points following victories for both contenders.
Strutt's Steve Bullock took the opener on the black in their clash with Alfreton Palmer Morewood and Wayne Shooter added the second in convincing style to establish himself as T & M Motors player of the week.
However, octogenarian Ralph Edgson produced a five star performance to reduce the arrears in frame three and then John Smith equalised soon afterwards.
But Bullock and Shooter teamed up in the concluding doubles frame to decide the issue.
Edgefold No 1 triumphed 4-1 at home to Bolehill No 1 despite Ricki Slack giving the visitors an early advantage. Neil Parkinson top scored in the next to equalise and eventually it fell to Jason Ankers to grasp the decisive frame 65-33.
Matlock Golf Club remain in the hunt just behind the leaders after a 4-1 home win over Matlock Club. Ian McKay (27 break) top scored in the opening frame with an 80-37 verdict making it ten wins in eleven outings whilst Paul Roe's black ball win in the next was also important.
Paul Bryan scored an excellent 71-26 success as the sole victor for the visitors.
League week 13 results: Belper Strutt Club 3, Alfreton Palmer Morewood 2; Edgefold Matlock No 1 4, Bolehill Institute No 1 1; Matlock Golf Club 4, Matlock Club 1.
Open Individual Handicap 3rd round: Sean Dobney 3, Neil Parkinson 1.
Breaks: I McKay 27.

Ashford Arms Premier League   P       W      L      Pts
Belper Strutt Club                         12      10       2      37
Edgefold Matlock No 1                 12        8       4      37
Matlock Golf Club                         12        8       4     34

Edgefold Matlock No 2                 11        7       4      33

Bolehill Institute No 2                   11         6       5     24

Bolehill Institute No 1                   11         5       6     24

Crich Comrades                           10        4       6      24

Matlock Club                                12        1      11     21

Alfreton Palmer Morewood          11         2     10     21 

Leading wins: I McKay 10/11; J Ankers 9/12; S Bullock 8/12.
Leading breaks: K Robertson 55; R Slack 54.

COMPETITION SEMI FINAL DRAWS FOR MARCH / APRIL

THE draws for the remaining 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, all matches best of 5 this season with finals best of 7 (except "B" final which is best of 5).
Note that players switching over from teams in same club are not eligible to play in semi finals or finals.

BOB McCARTIN SIX RED TEAM CUP Final Best of 7 Frames - 7.30pm
Four singles and three scotch doubles frames
Mon Mar 12: Edgefold Matlock No 2 v Belper Strutt Club (at Bolehill Institute)

OMYA CUP (Individual Scratch) Semi Finals

Best of 5 Frames - No handicaps - 7.30pm
Tue Mar 13: John Smith (Alfreton PM) v Ricki Slack (Bolehill Institute 1)

Tue Mar 13: Graham Jones (Mat Golf Club) v Justin Weller (Belper Strutt Club)

OPEN INDIVIDUAL HANDICAP Semi Finals
Best of 5 Frames - Normal League Handicaps apply - 7.30pm
Tue Mar 13: Sean Dobney (Edgefold 2) v Keith Manlove (Matlock Club)
Tue Mar 13: Kevin Munnelly (Bolehill Institute 2) v Rob Dickin (Edgefold 2)

"B" (INTERMEDIATE) INDIVIDUAL HANDICAP Semi Finals
Best of 5 Frames - Normal League Handicaps apply - 7.30pm
Mon Mar 19: John Smith (Alfreton PM) v Ade Smith (Crich Comrades)
Wed Mar 21: Guy Taylor (Alfreton PM) v Steve Bullock (Belper Strutt Club)

DENIS MORTON TROPHY (Pairs Handicap) Semi Finals

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

Tue Mar 27: G Jones / I McKay (Golf Club)  v R Slack / K Robertson (Bolehill) 

Wed Mar 28: Harwood/Ankers-Haggarty/Smith v Bullock/Weller-Dobney/Dickin

CAPTAINS CUP (Team Aggregate Comp) Semi Finals
Tue Apr 03: Bolehill Institute No 2 v Alfreton Palmer Morewood
Wed Apr 04: Matlock Club v Belper Strutt Club

JIMMY HARPER PLATE (Team Aggregate Consolation) First Round
Thu Mar 15: Crich Comrades v Bolehill Institute No 1
Semi Finals
Tue Apr 03: Matlock Golf Club v Edgefold Matlock No 2
Tue Apr 03: Edgefold Matlock No 1 v Crich Comrades or Bolehill Institute No 1

MATLOCK CLUB THROUGH WITH CONVINCING SUCCESS

PAUL BRYAN partnered the other Paul (Holmes) to doubles success

MATLOCK CLUB surged into the semi finals of the Captains Cup team aggregate event with a second successive win in Group B to remain undefeated in the qualifying stages, this time getting the better of Bolehill Institute No 1 313-265.
Graeme Wood took a hard fought opener 54-46 in the first of several close contests and the next frame saw Paul Bryan and Andrew Brough locked together at 64 apiece before Simon Zoppi took the next on the black 56-51.
Remarkably there was another tied contest between Mick Mackfall and Ian Birks in the next (the black not coming up again with the aggregate format in operation).
But the two Pauls, Bryan and Holmes, combined in emphatic fashion in the all important doubles leg to tot up a 79-34 success and carry the home team over the line.

Bolehill Institute No 2 had better fortune than their No 1 counterparts as they also racked up a second win in Group C thanks to a convincing 321-248 verdict over Edgefold No 2.
The first four frames were won by the triumphant visitors, with Keith Robertson top scoring though Sean Dobney, who notched a 32 break despite losing out in his singles frame, teamed up with Sam Lavelle to take the doubles leg.

Elsewhere Crich Comrades defeated Matlock Golf Club 247-234 with John Smith (21 break) in fine form but ultimately the result was not enough for either team to progress from Group A, where Belper Strutt Club topped the section on points difference.

Captains Cup (Team Aggregate) Group A: Matlock Golf Club 234, Crich Comrades 247; Group B: Matlock Club 313, Bolehill Institute No 1 265; Group C: Edgefold Matlock No 2 248, Bolehill Institute No 2 321.
Breaks: S Dobney 32; J Smith (Crich) 21.

Group A                                      P       W       L         F         A       Diff 
Belper Strutt Club                       2         1        1        608    580      +28
Matlock Golf Club                       2         1        1        532    543       -11
Crich Comrades Club                 2         1        1        529    546       -17

Group B                                      P       W       L         F         A       Diff 
Matlock Club                              2         2        0       606    554       +52
Alfreton Palmer Morewood        2         1        1       637    503     +134
Bolehill Institute No 1                 2         0        2       475    661      -186

Group C                                      P       W       L         F         A       Diff 
Bolehill Institute No 2                 2         2        0       630    497    +133
Edgefold Matlock No 1               2         1        1       617    642       -25
Edgefold Matlock No 2               2         0        2       581    689     -208

STRUTT CLUB REMAIN TOP AS TIGHT CONTESTS RULE

MICK MACKFALL pushed Belper Strutt Club all the way

WITH the home straight in sight in this season's Ashford Arms Premier League, it was the tighest week yet in terms of results as each and every game was won by the minimum margin leaving Belper Strutt Club still one point ahead at the top of the table.
Their opponents Matlock Club went 1-0 ahead when Graeme Wood took a tight battle in the opener but Steve Bullock scored a crucial black ball win in the next and Wayne Shooter made it 2-1 to the pacesetters in the next.
A black ball win from Mick Mackfall made it 2-2 but Bullock and Mark Newby stayed cool to take the concluding doubles leg 81-45.
The Edgefold teams each remain a point adrift after narrow wins. The No 1 team edged out Alfreton Palmer Morewood with Rob Muxlow (breaks of 39,25 and 22) earning himself T & M Motors player of the week, whilst Andrew Haggarty top scored for the hosts.
And the No 2 team just had the better of Matlock Golf Club with Tom Chambers and Sam Lavelle in winning form whilst Charlie Hodgkinson top scored for the vanquished.
Bolehill No 2 came from 2-1 down to pip Crich Comrades, for whom John Smith was in sublime touch, with Keith Robertson and Kevin Munnelly deciding the issue 68-37 in the doubles leg.
League week 12 results: Matlock Club 2, Belper Strutt Club 3; Alfreton Palmer Morewood 2, Edgefold Matlock No 1 3; Edgefold Matlock No 2 3, Matlock Golf Club 2; Crich Comrades Club 2, Bolehill Institute No 2 3.
Open Individual Handicap 3rd round: Ade Smith 2, Kevin Munnelly 3.
Breaks: R Muxlow 39,25,22; S Dobney 29; A Lowe 24; I McKay 23.

Ashford Arms Premier League   P       W      L      Pts
Belper Strutt Club                         11        9       2      34
Edgefold Matlock No 1                 11        7       4      33

Edgefold Matlock No 2                 11        7       4      33

Matlock Golf Club                         11        7       4      30
Bolehill Institute No 2                   11         6       5     24

Crich Comrades                           10        4       6      24

Bolehill Institute No 1                   10         5      5      23
Matlock Club                                11         1    10      20

Alfreton Palmer Morewood          10         2      8      19 

Leading wins: I McKay 9/10; J Ankers 8/11; S Dobney, R Dickin, C Hodgkinson & K Robertson 7/10.
Leading breaks: K Robertson 55; R Slack 54.

STRUTT CLUB HIT THE SUMMIT AFTER FOUR POINT SALVO

STEVE BULLOCK sealed the deal for BELPER STRUTT CLUB

BELPER STRUTT CLUB hit the summit for the first time this season with a 4-1 home win over erstwhile pacesetters Edgefold No 2 ensuring a flip-flop at the head of the Ashford Arms Premier League following week 11's fixture list.
Paul Jarrett with a 73-36 win including a run of 31 started the ball rolling and Mark Newby produced a similarly impressive display, taking the next 76-43.
Steve Bullock added the third in a closer affair before new signing Mark Gibson got the visitors on the board in frame four.
But Jarrett and Wayne Shooter finished off a fine night for the home team by taking the concluding doubles leg on the deciding black.
Edgefold No 1 are also just a point adrift after a 3-2 home win over Matlock Club. Duncan Harwood and Keith Manlove top scored respectively in a tight battle.
There were sizeable breaks at Matlock Golf Club in the opening couple of frames with Bolehill No 2 as Ian McKay (37) earned himself the T & M Motors player of the week accolade while Keith Robertson (30) was also involved in the early fireworks, before eventually Charlie Hodgkinson's black ball win settled the issue in frame four.
And Bolehill No 1 gained their first win over Alfreton Palmer Morewood's newest team since they entered the league last season to the tune of 4-1. Simon Zoppi made the game safe in frame three before John Smith struck back for the visitors.
League week 11 results: Belper Strutt Club 4, Edgefold Matlock No 2 1; Edgefold Matlock No 1 3, Matlock Club 2; Matlock Golf Club 3, Bolehill Institute No 2 2; Bolehill Institute No 1 4, Alfreton Palmer Morewood 1.
Breaks: I McKay 37; P Jarrett 31; K Robertson 30; R Slack 27; M Gibson 22; K Manlove 20.

Ashford Arms Premier League   P       W      L      Pts
Belper Strutt Club                         10        8       2      31
Edgefold Matlock No 1                 10        6       4      30

Edgefold Matlock No 2                 10        6       4      30

Matlock Golf Club                         10        7       3      28

Bolehill Institute No 1                   10         5      5      23
Crich Comrades                             9         4      5      22
Bolehill Institute No 2                   10         5      5      21
Matlock Club                                10         1      9      18

Alfreton Palmer Morewood            9         2      7      17 

Leading wins: I McKay 8/9; S Dobney 7/9; M Newby, R Dicken & J Ankers 6/9.
Leading breaks: K Robertson 55; R Slack 54.

COMPETITION DRAWS FOR FEBRUARY

THE draws for the remaining quarter 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, all matches best of 5 this season with finals best of 7 (except "B" final which is best of 5).

OPEN INDIVIDUAL HANDICAP Third Round

Best of 5 Frames - Normal League Handicaps apply - 7.30pm
Mon Feb 12: Ade Smith (Crich Comrades) v Kevin Munnelly (Bolehill 2)

Tue Feb 13: Rob Dickin (Edgefold 2) v Justin Weller (Belper Strutt)

Wed Feb 21: John Smith (Alfreton PM) v Keith Manlove (Matlock Club)

Wed Feb 28: Sean Dobney (Edgefold 2) v N Parkinson (Edg) or A Lowe (CC)

DENIS MORTON TROPHY (PAIRS HANDICAP) Second Round

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

Tue Feb 13: R Slack / K Robertson (Bolehill) v A Smith / A Lowe (Crich Coms)

Mon Feb 19: N Parkinson / R Muxlow (Edg 1) v G Jones / I McKay (Mat Glf Clb)

Wed Feb 21: D Harwood / J Ankers (Edg 1) v A Haggarty / D Smith (Alfreton)

Wed Feb 21: S Bullock / J Weller (Strutt) v S Dobney / R Dickin (Edgefold 2)

KEITH RALLIES HIS TROOPS IN CAPTAINS CUP STORMER

KEITH MANLOVE swung the balance for MATLOCK CLUB

AN INTERESTING round of games in the Captains Cup team aggregate event with teams on the cusp of qualification all being pegged back by defeats of varying margins.
Alfreton Palmer Morewood, continuing on from an emphatic victory in their opening fixture in Group B, were sailing along nicely as narrow wins for Andrew Haggarty, Des Smith and Guy Taylor saw them take a 28 points advantage going into the fourth frame of their home clash with Matlock Club.
But captain fantastic Keith Manlove rallied his troops, setting a fine example with his 85-67 win in the next and in an engrossing doubles finale, Dave Benson and Paul Holmes got over the line on the deciding black for a final victory of 293-289.

Also falling to defeat on the final black were Belper Strutt Club in Group A, as they went into the final frame locked together on points with Matlock Golf Club at 236 apiece.
And it was here that Ian McKay and Paul Roe stepped forward to be counted in a pulsating doubles contest which they took 62-60.
Wayne Shooter had top scored earlier for the Belper cuemen.

Bolehill No 2 are off to a flyer in Group C as they defeated Edgefold No 1 with Keith Robertson successful in each of his singles and doubles legs after Neil Parkinson had struck first for the Matlock outfit.

Captains Cup (Team Aggregate) Group A:  Belper Strutt Club 296, Matlock Golf Club 298; Group B: Alfreton Palmer Morewood 289, Matlock Club 293; Group C: Bolehill Institute No 2 309, Edgefold Matlock No 2 249.
"B" (Intermediate) Individual Handicap second round: Steve Bullock 3, Keith Manlove 1.
Breaks: D Smith 27; W Shooter 21.

Group A                                      P       W       L         F         A       Diff 
Belper Strutt Club                       2         1        1        608    580      +28
Matlock Golf Club                       1         1        0        298    296        +2
Crich Comrades Club                 1         0        1        282    312       -30

Group B                                      P       W       L         F         A       Diff 
Alfreton Palmer Morewood        2         1        1        637    503    +134
Matlock Club                              1         1        0       293    289        +4
Bolehill Institute No 1                 1         0        1       210    348      -138

Group C                                      P       W       L         F         A       Diff 
Bolehill Institute No 2                 1         1        0       309    249      +60
Edgefold Matlock No 1               2         1        1       617    642       -25
Edgefold Matlock No 2               1         0        1       333    368       -35

Winner of each group qualifies plus best runner-up.
Others enter Jimmy Harper Plate.
Preferred qualifying criteria: 1. Matches won 2. Aggregate points difference 3. Head to head