Kidderminster snooker league round-up

The 29th January saw the penultimate weeks round of matches in the Alan Atkinson and John Smith League Cup.

In group 'A' the first match saw second place Wribbenhall take on the leaders Pockets 'E'. Wayne Dobson got the Pockets side off to a good start scoring 67 points in his win.

This was followed by singles wins for John Betton, Andy Smith and Tom Pepperall, putting Pockets 4-0 up.

This trend continued in the doubles with the Pockets pair of Andy Smith and John Betton securing the clean sweep. In the next match two Pockets sides confronted each other, with the 'A' side hosting the 'G' side.

The 'A' side got off to a good start winning the first two frames through Alan Turner and Jay Shuck.

The 'G' side pulled a frame back through Mark Donovan who scored 66 points to win. But this proved to be the only success for the 'G' side, they lost the final singles and the doubles frames, with Craig Homer scoring 67 in his singles frame and the 'A' side clinching a 4-1 win to keep their hopes of qualifying alive.

In the final match Workmans 'A' took on Pockets 'C'. This proved to be a tight contest with Pockets winning the first two frames through Chris Carter and Reg Burton.

Workmans struck back winning the next two frames through gavin Brown and Rod Thompson. Thus the match was decided by the victory of Gavin Brown and Brian Mills for Workmans in the doubles frame, giving Workmans a 3-2 win.

In group 'B'second placed Franche took on St Georges. Matt Adleton of St Georges got them off to a good start winning his frame. This was the high point for St Georges as they lost the next three frames, with wins for Dan Curtis, Jason Bowers and Paul Bowers, Paul played well scoring 71 points in his frame.

The doubles frame also went the way of Franche giving them a 4-1-win. In the next match St Johns 'D' hosted Cookley. St Johns proved to be too strong for Cookley and ran out 5-0 winners with the best performance being Dave Hayward scoring 62 in his frame.

In the final match in this group the leaders Pockets 'S' took on stable mates Pockets 'D'. The 'S' side started well with Charles Newey scoring 62 in his win including a 27 break. The rest of the games followed this format with the 'S' side running out 5-0 winners.

In group 'C' the first match saw Pockets 'H' take on Workmans 'B'.

The Pockets side look set for first win when they won the first two frames through Harrison Costello and John Costello. But Workmans struck back with Colin McMurray and Aidy Palmer who scored 71 in his frame.

This meant it all rested upon the doubles frame. The Workmans pair of Aidy Palmer and Colin McMurray proved far too strong scoring 85 points and takiing the match 3-2 for Workmans.

In the second match Chester Road hosted Three Lions. The visitors got off to a good start with Roger Harrison scoring 61 in his win. Chester Road hit back with Graham Joynes.

Three Lions then took the next frame through Martin Lester, but Chester Road levelled the match with Ray Pugh scoring 60 points to take the last singles frame. The match thus rested on the doubles frame.

In a very scrappy and low scoring game the Chester Road pair of Graham Joynes and Ray Pugh just managed to win on the Black only scoring 37 points altogether.

The final match saw the leaders St Johns 'E' hosted second place Pockets 'B'. St Johns got off to the better start winning the first frame through James Allington and the second with Dave Summers scoring 68 points.

They sealed the win when Martin Lippitt won the third frame for them. Pockets took the fourth frame with Rich Pepperall scoring 65 points. This was their only win as St Johns completed the round winning the doubles frame and the match 4-1.

With one round of matches to go the groups stand as follows.

Group 'A' leaders are Pockets 'E' on 22 points, with second place being held by another Pockets team this time the 'A' side on 18 points.

Group 'B' has Pockets 'S' in first place on 20 points and Franche in second on 17 points.

Group 'C' is the most open group with St Johns 'E' leading on 19 points but being pushed hard by Chester Road and Pockets 'B' both on 17 points, they play each other in the last round on February 5th.

The format means that only the winner of each group and the best scoring second place team go through to the semi finals on the 12th of February.