Cleveland Billiards & Snooker League Sponsored by Coors Brewers

Iweek seven of the 2002 Billiards League the Redcar Lakes extended their lead at the top of the table when on their travels they whitewashing Carlin How by 3-0.

Gary Beckett (-20) set the pace beating Carlin How's Brian Magor (+40) by 150 - 130. Mark Andrews (-35) made it two nil beating Tony Zutshi (+40) by 150 - 134. Dave Beckett (-10) sealed the whitewash beating an out of sorts Andrew Shelley (+5) by 150 - 99. The second placed team, Redcar Literary 'A', kept their title chances on track after beating their 'B' team by two games to 1. Chris Hartley (+30) got the 'A' team off to a great start when beating Anthony Kyme (+30) 150 - 85. In the second match Andrew Fairley (Scr) levelled the match after beating Callum Robinson (+30) by 150 - 127. John Hartley (-55) sealed the match for the 'A' team with an outstanding performance beating Barry Chapman (Scr) by 150 - 85 during which he compiled breaks of 53 and 33.

The England Cup team Billiards Handicap final is scheduled to take place between the Redcar Lakes Social Club and the Redcar Literary Institute's 'A' team on Monday 15th July at the Saltburn Conservative Club. The match is scheduled to commence at 7 pm. prompt and the match referee is Phil Vaughan.

Redcar and District League

Division One

Vals A were at home to Cleveland A and went 1-0 up with G Allen winning. Patsy Taylor then made an excellent finish to make it 1-1. M Bass put the Cleveland 2-1 up but the Vals came back to take the next three frames with wins from S Watson, S Thompson and C Thomas. Vals then went on to win 2-3 doubles for a 6-3 win.

The Fairway went 1-0 down in their home games with the West B with P Sinclair winning the Fairway then went on a roll with S Nawton, I Calvert, S McCormick, D Porteous and T Lawrie making it 5-1. West came back to win 2-3 doubles for a 6-3 defeat with the Fairway unbeaten in their last three games.

Kingfisher A, who had a bad start to the season, are now starting to play well at home to third placed The Royal. They went down 1-0 with I Wright winning. M Smallwood made it 1-1, C Wallace made it 2-1. Kingey then won the next three singles with S Buckton, K Whyman and K Manders winning. Kingey then won 2-3 doubles for a 6-3 win. Cleveland A went 4-0 up in their game against the Rugby Club with G Taylor, M Bass, I McKenna and S Bulman winning. P Wilson pulled one back but man of the match D Rich made it 5-1. The Cleveland then won 1-3 doubles with D Rich making an excellent finish to win the match 6-3.

In a close game the Yorkshire Lass were at home to Vals C. Lass won the singles 4-2 with M Watson and L Joel and I Maxwell and D McLean winning their doubles for Vals to keep them in the match, but Lass won the last to win the match 5-4.

Placings: West 2A pld 19, pts 113; Hydro B 18, 111; Royal 19, 107; Rugby Club 19, 94.

Division Two

The Lobster were at home to the Station and in a good team performance went 5-0 up with wins from P Allen, P Trattles, R O'Hagen, D Truss and A Whittle. J Holmes pulled one back, but the Lobster won all three doubles for an 8-1 win. The Kingey C were away to RAFA and won the singles 4-2 with L Ashley, S Palfreman, P Lewis and G Harland winning with P Butler and S Brown winning for RAFA who then won 2-3 doubles for a close 5-4 defeat. D Richardson made an excellent clearance to put Cleveland 1-0 up in their home game with the Lazenby Club. R Johnston made it 1-1, C Evans and L Rye put the Cleveland 3-1 up. Lazenby came back with B Williamson and G Taylor making it 3-3. The Cleveland then won 2-3 doubles for a 5-4 win.

The Beacon went 4-0 up in their home game with the Kingey C with I Parker, T Davison, M Jones and C Aspinall winning. L Ashley and G Harland then made it 4-2. The Beacon then won 2-3 doubles for a 6-3 win.

Placings: NMSC p21, pts 126; Hdro P21, Pts 117; Clarey B 21, 114; Beacon 21, 110.

Cleveland County

Oagain the Cleveland County ladies team showed both men's teams the ways of winning after the county matches at the weekend at home to Durham County. It was again the ladies team the only ones to win their match. Ladies won all their four sets 6-5 7-5 8-3 and 7-4 to run out comfortable 28-16 winners. There was joint lady of the match awards which went to Louise Hetherington and Heather Morton who were both in excellent form winning all their four frames played. Captain Carole Cooper, Lindsey McKellar, Sarah Bennett all won three from four played.

The men's A team had another poor result losing 25-19. Cleveland lost all four sets, the first three 6-5 each and the last set 7-4. There was a joint man of the match award which went to David Eaton and Peter Allison who both won three from four. The men's B team were defeated 27-17 after winning the first set 6-5 then losing the next three sets 7-4 7-4 and 8-3. Man of the match was captain Paul Phoenix who won four from four. Young Lee Wilson was outstanding to come through and win three of his four matches played.

Middlesbrough and District League

Ithe first match of the second half of the season the league barring any miracles looks to be a two-horse race between Tables and the Captain Cook 8s. The Cook 8s pulled one point back on Tables when they defeated Captain Cook 7-0 with wins from Michael Gray who has been excellent in his first year in the Middlesbrough League. Lee Wray, Lee Ward, Kevin Dismore, Mark Fisher, Alan Stevenson and Steve Woodier. Tables defeated the Half Penny 6-1 with wins from Simon Holmes, Terry Allan, Eddie Brown won the only frame for the Half Penny for 2-1. The Kevin Pigott finally won his frame after missing a hat full of chances. Dave Robinson put in a captain's performance for 4-1, Stuart Richardson kept up his impressive record for 5-1, J Carrigan had a chance of upsetting his opponent Mick Shaw, but Shaw's experience saw him through to win the last frame to stay on losing only one frame this season.

Libertys had a very notable 6-1 win at the Speedway. In the second division the Kingfisher had a very rare 5-2 win against the Old Vic.

This year's three-man team final will be between the Royal George and Captain Cook 8s. After both teams came through their semi-finals matches the George defeated the Saltersgill 5-1 with wins from Billy Badger and Darren Jones won two frames each and captain Dave Kilburn won one frame.

Billingham Invitation League

Oagain the Owington Farm are showing dominance after again lifting the league cup. Michael Gray put them 1-0 up in the final against Rob Barnard from the Smiths A team. Stuart Richardson defeated Sean Bennett for 2-0, Phil Peacock got a chance against Philly Cox and took it very well for 2-1. Paul Lynch put the Farm 3-1 up then it was left to the captain Freddy Chapman to win the cup for the Farm with an impressive eightball finish for a 4-1 scoreline and the first leg of an almost certain double as they are in pole position in the league to retain their title.

Durham County Super League

In the top match of the week Crook B entertained Durham B and the homeside won 8-6.Crook B had two wins from Darren Tinkler,Gerald Parkin and John Warrinner,one win each for David Stephenson and Peter Sampson.Durham replied with two wins from Andy Seal and one each from Paul Brockway,Trevor Walton,Chris Bowron and Dave Hodgson.

Aycliffe A entertained Ferryhill and took a 8-3 lead but Ferryhill won the last three frames to make it more respectable going down 8-6.Winners for Aycliffe A with two wins were Johnny Mason and Eddie Mackay and one win each for Dave Bromley,Christopher Mason,Craig Poskett and Andrew Tuesday.

Ferryhill replied with two wins from Simon Corbridge and one win each from Steve Wray,Steve Webster,Phil Cox and Terry Wray.

Horden continued their unbeaten league run when they beat the visiting Crook A 8-6.Winners for Horden with two wins were John Bourne,Steven Wylie and James Evans,one win each from Paul Hickman and Tommy Forster.Crook A replied with two wins from Steve Liddle and Jim Ainsley,one win each from Michael Burke and Stephen Heyes.

Aycliffe B had their first win of the season when they beat the visiting Bishop Auckland 9-5. Aycliffe B had two wins from Gary Spoone which sent them on their way to victory.

Consett won 8-6 when they beat the visiting Shildon.