It’s all to play for as league hits halfway
THE first half of the season is now complete and the 2021-22 Burton & District Snooker League has seen a welcome return with a full complement of players in competitive action.
In the President’s Handicap Divisional Cup, Burton Cons B, Alrewas C and Tutbury B each triumphed in their section.
Cons B thrashed SDSC A 7-1 with John Shilton, Darren Coady (posting a nice 50) and Mike Buckland doing the damage.
Alrewas C beat Spot On B 6-2 away, Wayne Pereira and Lewis Parnham beating Jason Spibey and Adam Edwards easily and Bill Stewart sealing the winning frame with a solid clearance against Rich Crawley.
In Division Two, Tutbury B beat Burton Cons D in a nailbiting finish with Ian Day and Colin Bell winning the tiebreak doubles against Stuart Johnson and Vince Draper.
The three winning teams will contest a handicap Grand Final in the new year.
In the Newton Fallowell Premier Division, Burton Cons A end the year on top and unbeaten, three points clear and with a match in hand on second-placed Alrewas B.
In recent weeks, Cons A have seen off Belmont A (6-2), SDSC B (8-0) and Spot On A (6-2).
Colin Hamer is having an excellent season for them, losing only one of 18 frames so far.
Alrewas B are the surprise package, with impressive wins away to Newhall A (5-3), Belmont A (6-2) and SDSC B (5-3).
Tim Frowd’s first season in the league sees him unbeaten in 12 frames.
At the bottom, the battle to stay in the division has intensified.
Notwithstanding some postponed games, the bottom six or so are separated by a win or two, with Alrewas A dragging themselves off the bottom in recent weeks and SDSC B falling into the red.
In PJM Fascias Division One, it has been a very competitive fight for the top three places.
Rolleston B are on top for Christmas, having played a game more than their rivals.
They have had an excellent first half with Mark Press and Bobby Cliff in fine form, backed up by Rob Sanders, Kev Norris and Rob Tubey, as they have recorded eight 6-2 or better wins out of 12 matches.
Ivanhoe C and Alrewas C will both still fancy catching them, their records separated by a single point and both having lost only once.
Nick Sewell is having an excellent season for Ivanhoe and rolled in an excellent 54 break against Rolleston B a fortnight ago.
Josh Wright and Brendan Mattley have also played well for them.
Alrewas C newcomer Lewis Parnham has been the bright light in the their team with a string of excellent breaks (94, 56, 36, 37, 32) but has had good support from Wayne Pereira, Bill Stewart, Dave Trueman and Ian Hiley, all hitting 70% average so far.
At the bottom, it’s been a tough campaign for Rolleston C but in recent weeks John Ward, Neal Cheadle, Mark Storr and Graham Fisher have played some encouraging snooker that gives them hope in the new year.
Ivanhoe D and Woodville B are in precarious positions but are only a win away from Stapenhill A and SDSC D.
Adam Briggs, for Ivanhoe, and Mark Gallagher, for Woodville, are having very solid seasons.
In Nicholas Humphreys Division Two, the top three are running away with it.
Ivanhoe E are top by six points having played a game more than Burton Cons D.
They have suffered only a single defeat and Jakub Krasewski and Jacob Moore are having great seasons, ably supported by Richard Clay, Dave Marriot and Keith Bale.
Cons D, still unbeaten, could go top with their game in hand and they have had some stunning results driven by outstanding form from Mick Morris and Stuart Johnson, while Vince Draper and Ian Shrive have also won their fair share.
Tutbury B, in third, have only lost once. Colin Bell, Ian Day and Jeff Siddalls have won more than 75% of their frames, supported by Dave Brady and John Peto.
Cons D and Tutbury B are 18 points clear of fourth-placed Stapenhill C.
Bob Mcinulty’s 45 break sits on top of the high break table in the division, with Jeff Siddalls, Nick Harcombe (also top of the player averages) and Mick Morris all recording breaks in the 40s.
The individual player competitions, are mostly getting down to the serious end.
In the Crown Windows Evershed Vase, the quarter-finals feature some heavy-hitting fixtures, the highlight being John Shilton versus Graham Stevens, but Andy Grainger, Ant Moore, Lewis Parnham, Karl Hancox, Thom Smith and Mark Sherratt will have a lot to say before the trophy is won.
The Ivanhoe Social Club Arthur Edwards Doubles are also at the quarter-final stage.
Four of the doubles teams are from the Burton Cons club but they will expect tough opposition from Simon Tarrant/tony Wills and Thom Smith/lee Louch.
The handicap Geoff, Sheila, Graham Hinsley Doubles also reaches the last eight.
Belmont B are well featured with the partnerships of Paul Bradford and Kyle Cope and Jordan Watts and Jared Cronje potentially on course for a semi-final showdown.
Outsiders Mark Gallagher and Dennis Moore have done superblu to get this far and will be a real danger to opponents Andy and Brian Bloor.
In the Over-50s Jack Dyche Singles, the final eight are through.
The competition is wide open, with Carl Poulton v Shaun Gebbie, Simon Shilton v Martin Hicks, Greg Britton v Jonathan Swift and Mark Vaughan v Wayne Smith. All are capable of lifting the trophy.
Finally, the Billiards semi-finals draw has been concluded, with Graham Stevens, winner for the past three years, ready to take on Thom Smith.
The other semi features league stalwarts Pete Maguire and Tom Egginton.