HISTORY MADE AS THREE CENTURIES MADE IN SAME NIGHT

History was made this week as a record equalling three centuries were made in league play on the same night. Daniel Ward made a 108 break for Sedgley Ex-Services, Bal Sembi hit a fine 100 for Ladywood Social and Ash Sidaway made 101 for Sedgley WMC. This feat has been achieved once before in the 2004/5 season and continues the impressive standard of play in division one this season.

Daniel Ward, the current most wins leader made a 108 break in Sedgley Ex-Services 5-0 whitewash over Golden Cue, Ward put last year’s champions 1-0 up before Simon Hickman prevailed on the black in a tough encounter against Simon Groves. Mitchell Mann and Andy Highfield made it 4-0 thanks to breaks of 43 and 50 respectively before Ryan Evans secured the whitewash.

Ash Sidaway’s 101 came as Sedgley WMC proved they are still battling to stay in division one with a superb 4-1 victory over 5^th placed Woodcross. Sidaway’s century put the strugglers 1-0 up but it was soon 1-1 thanks to Kevin Lockley. Perhaps inspired by the exploits of their young team-mate Sedgley then romped home 4-1 thanks to Adam Ness, Wayne Bentley and Elliot Bastable, the latter making a 59 break.

Bal Sembi made exactly 100 for Ladywood as they continued their superb form this season in defeating Masters B 4-1. Nick Griffiths took the opener for Masters but Ladywood responded in style thanks to Jason Hickman, Rob Howen and Andy McCarthy. This set the scene for Sembi to round off the night in style with a century break.

With all the century making it was almost easy to forget that a top of the table clash was taking place as 4^th placed Landywood took on league leaders Brandhall and yet again the leaders proved their mettle by winning the match 4-1 to lead the division by six points. Geoff Williams won the opener aided by a 69 break and Karl Ashmore soon made it 2-0. Robbie James threatened to spark a revival as a 56 break reduced the deficit to 1-2 but Alan Hooper and Gary Miller saw Brandhall home.

Breaks continued to flow in division 2, the best of which was a fine 66 break for Tom Scarrett for struggling Golden Cue B against Goodyear. The relegation threatened Cue got off to a flyer as Scarrett and Hitun Patel, aided by a 38 break, put Cue 2-0 up, but the match went away from Cue as Goodyear took the spoils through Scott Barratt, Graham Morris and Kevin Saunders.

Elsewhere Jon Bood knocked in a 61 break as promotion chasing Jacks Bar travelled to Shifnal B. Shifnal raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to Chris Morgan Adams and Rob Wright, however Bood’s break made the match score 2-1 and acted as a catalyst for his team as Jacks won the match 3-2 thanks to Dwyer Evans and Neil Leighton. Leighton’s victory in the decider sees him move clear in the most wins race thanks to a bye week for Landywood’s Dave Coburn and Bilston BC’s Steve Bircher going down to Craig Rooker of Golden Cue C.

The top clash in division two saw third placed Victory WMC face fifth Sedgley Es-Services. Victory won the opener through Steve Adams but Sedgley stormed back to win 4-1 through Simon Biddulph, Luke Smith, Ian Cleary and Lee Slater.

In division 3 there was a welcome victory for bottom side Wednesbury Cons B over Fordhouses in a close encounter. The first two frames were shared as Dean Simpson won for Cons and Stuart Williams replied for Fordhouses. The match was won in the middle order as Dean Churchill and R McCabe put Cons 3-1 up. Gary Williams won the consolation frame to lose the match 2-3.

British Rail eased their relegation worries thanks to a 4-1 victory over fellow strugglers Electric B. Craig Davies was the sole victor for Electric but Rail were unstoppable through Duncan Simpson, Ian Lewis, Gary Cromar and Dave Bolshaw.

In division 4 the leaders Golden Cue E lost 2-3 to Wednesfield Cons. The away side raced into a 3-0 lead through Mark Davies, Colin Bailey and Peter Slatcher, but the leaders showed true fighting spirit in limiting the loss to 2-3 through Alan Moore and Chris Hill.

This opened the door for Albrighton to take over as leaders of the division after a 4-1 victory at Old Wulfs. Despite suffering the blow of losing the opening frame through Frank Ruscoe, Albrighton proved too strong through Paul Hurst, Steve Wilson, Tony Baldwin and Richard Downing.

In division 5 there was a top of the table clash as 2^nd placed RAFA faced leaders Willenhall Liberals C. Dave Walker and Alan Rogers proved as solid as usual for RAFA but Libs proved too strong winning the match 3-2 through Dave Lloyd, Gary Haynes and Andy Smith to lead the division by seven points.

In division 6 Golden Cue G benefited from defeats from closest rivals Codsall Cons and Windsor B to lead the division by eleven points after defeating Whitmore Reans Cons B 4-1. It looked like being a whitewash as Cue went 4-0 up through Phil Richards, Simon Vines, Martin Taylor and Alan Richards. Barry Lem earned pride for Cons by winning the final frame.