Week 16 Report

Joe Reynolds, Welcome Institute ‘A’

TEAM KNOCKOUT

As the league fixtures pause for the Christmas break, the year wraps up with the quarter-finals of the Group 1 and 2 Team Knockouts.

Frame 4 Brilliance as Reynolds Delivers a Stunning 129 Clearance

The highlight of the week unfolded during frame 4 of the clash between Alfreton SC 'D' and the Welcome Institute. Despite being the underdogs, Alfreton SC ‘D’ displayed resilience and determination against their stronger opponents. Then came the moment everyone would remember, as Joe Reynolds took to the table to face Dan PT.

The Welcome player quickly got into a rhythm, and murmurs of "century on here!" rippled through the crowd as he began building an impressive break. Play on the adjacent table came to a halt as spectators turned their attention to Reynolds, who exuded calm and control throughout. Even when faced with tricky positions, including a couple of awkward cue ball lies, Reynolds expertly recovered with precise doubles to keep the break alive.

On 97, he faced another test, leaving the cue ball high on the last red. Using the rest, Reynolds confidently sank the red and landed perfectly on the brown, securing his century to a chorus of rapturous applause from the captivated audience. But Reynolds wasn’t done yet. He continued his flawless performance, clearing the colors for an extraordinary 129 clearance.

A fantastic achievement—congratulations, Joe Reynolds!

There was some interest in the clash between Alfreton SC ‘A’ and New Whitt SC ‘B’, two teams currently topping their respective divisions and both hoping to do the league and KO double. Defending champions Alfreton were well aware of New Whittington’s impressive progress this season and anticipated a tough contest. However, on the night, New Whitt’s recent good form failed to materialise. Despite creating numerous opportunities, they were unable to capitalise, while Alfreton delivered a polished and professional performance. The result was a comfortable win for Alfreton, who now advance to the semi-finals, taking another step toward defending their title.

Also eyeing a double triumph are Group 2’s Brotherhood ‘F’ and Alfreton ‘F’. Brotherhood ‘F’ delivered a dominant performance, comfortably defeating their clubmates Brotherhood ‘D’ by nearly double the points.

Over at Alfreton, the contest against Newbold CA ‘C’ proved far tighter. With a league position handicap giving Newbold an 80-point head start, Alfreton methodically chipped away at the deficit over the first four frames, reducing it to just 10 points heading into the final frame. In a fitting climax, both captains stepped forward to settle the match. Ultimately, it was Jamie Luckman who secured victory for Alfreton, guiding his team into the semi-finals.

Doe Lea 'A' Edge Past Lennons 'G' in Nail-Biting Quarterfinal

The quarterfinals saw some dominant performances, but the most gripping contest came in the Group 2 matchup between Doe Lea 'A' and Lennons 'G'. The opening frame set the tone for the evening and proved to be the turning point of the fixture.

Rob Wragsdale’s commanding 84-33 victory over Niall Hardwick gave Doe Lea an early advantage, putting them in a strong position. The remaining four frames were closely contested, with both teams battling fiercely for every point. In the end, Doe Lea managed to hold their nerve and secure a spot in the semi-finals, edging out Lennons 'G' by a razor-thin margin of just 12 points.

Group one: Quarter Finals Sponsored by Briggs Snooker & Pool

Hasland Club ‘D’ 224-291 Brotherhood ‘C’

Alfreton SC ‘A’ 399-173 New Whitt SC ‘B’

Hasland Club ‘A’ 197-340 Newbold CA ‘A’

Alfreton SC ‘D’ 217-392 Welcome Institute ‘A’

Breaks:

Joe Reynolds, Welcome Institute ‘A’ (129)

Steve Donner, Alfreton SC ‘A’ (41,40)

Lee Hage, Brotherhood ‘C’ (37)

Ash Walker. Welcome Institute ‘A’ (32)

Matt Edwards. Alfreton SC ‘D’ (31)

Group Two: Quarter Finals Sponsored by Lennons SC

Brotherhood ‘D’ 168-346 Brotherhood ‘F’

Alfreton SC ‘F’ 329-280 Newbold CA ‘C’

Doe Lea MW ‘A’ 275-263 Lennons SC ‘G’

Clowne Liberal ‘B’ 330-241 Newbold CA ‘B’

Breaks: N/A

Competition Report

David Birley’s pursuit of a sixth Premier title within ten consecutive finals faced an unexpected challenge from Brotherhood ‘C’ player Mark Hodgkinson. Despite sitting 116 places and three divisions below Birley in the player rankings, Hodgkinson pushed the Lennons player to the limit. On paper, this match appeared to be a straightforward win for Birley, and early on, it seemed to be heading that way as he comfortably secured the first two frames. However, Hodgkinson wasn’t ready to concede. The next two frames went down to black-ball finishes, both of which the Brotherhood player clinched, forcing a deciding frame. Showing his experience and composure, Birley held his nerve to close out the match, moving one step closer to another title.

Meanwhile, in the same competition, Alfreton’s George Wright delivered an impressive victory over John Roseman, one of the league’s standout players this season. A pivotal moment came in the second frame when the game was tied, and a re-spotted black determined the outcome. Wright displayed remarkable coolness, sinking a long double to level the match. The players went on to split the next two frames, setting up another decider. Wright’s composure shone through as he produced a significant 32 break to seal the match and book his place in the next round.

Just 24 hours after their Team KO victory, Alfreton ‘A’ split their ranks to compete in two separate Team of Three line-ups. Once again, New Whitt ‘B’ found themselves on the losing end against Alfreton, falling 4-1. Glen Shawcroft showcased his excellent form with a superbly crafted 68 break, the highest of the week.

Meanwhile, at Clay Cross, Steve Donner delivered a commanding performance, racking up four breaks over 30 to help his side secure a 4-2 victory over Brotherhood ‘C’. Donner’s scoring prowess continues to be unstoppable. Despite Brotherhood’s loss, John Roseman stood out as one of the evening’s top performers, winning both of his frames against Ben Monk and producing an impressive 33 break in the process.

Premier Competition: Rd 2

Sponsored by Alfreton SC

John Roseman 2-3 George Wright (32)

Mark Hodgkinson 2-3 David Birley

Kieron Stevenson (34) 3-2 Matt Edwards

Jason Rimington 3-0 Tom Haney

Harry Anderson Memorial Trophy: Rd 2

Sponsored by Archie Anderson

Adam Cupit 2-3 Deano Hancock

Geoff Hardy Memorial Trophy: Rd 2

Sponsored by YM Brotherhood

Rocco Amalou 3-1 Dan Hickman

Romley Caravan Classic: Pre-Lim round.

Sponsored by Romley Caravan Storage

Rob Morley (53) 3-0 Ian Rose

Jonathan Hall 3-0 Ben Buckley

Team Of Three: Rd 1

Sponsored by Alfreton SC

New Whitt SC ‘B’ 1-4 Alfreton SC ‘A1’

Glen Shawcroft (68)

Brotherhood ‘C’ 2-4 Alfreton SC ‘A2’

John Roseman (33) Steve Donner (32,33,46,50)

Lennons ‘H’ 4-1 Brotherhood ‘B’

Gav Shirley (33)

Grassmoor ‘A’ 1-4 Brotherhood ‘A1’

Dean Hancock (31) Martin Burrell (47)