The Midland Counties Billiards League has suffered a sudden and severe depletion in the number of teams competing, from an ideal eight sides two seasons ago to a bare minimum of four for the current campaign.
However this reduction in teams has allowed for the monthly matches to become home and away fixtures and a further innovation this season is the introduction of a full individual handicap system, with the assessments ranging from scratch to receive two hundred points - all games remain a duration of one hour.
The change has certainly led to closer, more competitive games, with four of the six pre-Christmas fixtures ending in 5-4 results. Stoke-on- Trent, runaway winners of the League in both of the previous two seasons, have moved into pole position again following a strong performance at Rugby that resulted in a 7-2 victory for the Champions, but neighbours Stafford are in very close attendance a mere one point adrift. The fewer number of games now being played means that there is little likelihood of approaching the pinnacle of two seasons ago when twelve players between them hit a total of thirty-five century breaks; indeed to date this year only three tons have been recorded by Peter Shelley (125, 102) and Maurice Chapman (102). Shelley is also the leading player in terms of individual wins, with seven victories and one tied game in nine outings, while League newcomer Dave Hall, representing Rugby, has proved to be a valuable signing for the Warwickshire outfit with seven successes out of nine.
The winners of the honours two years ago, St John's "B", seem intent upon reclaiming the Worcester Billiard League title after opening up a four point advantage over reigning champions, St Stephens "A", at the mid-point of the current campaign.
Lighting the way for the leaders is Nicky Vaughan, who is undefeated in nine games, and newcomer Kevin Rose, who, in his first billiards season, has impressively claimed ten scalps in the thirteen games that he has played.
Captain Mick Painter is doing his very best to keep the St Stephens challenge in touch, being successful eleven times from fourteen, while team-mate John Smith, although rather less consistent, has notched the highest break to date with 84.
Third placed GWR, for whom Roy Cale has strung together ten successes, lie three points adrift of St Stephens "A", but are some way clear of the rest of the field. There seems little prospect of any team from outside of the three principals getting to grips with the leaders.
At one time it appeared probable that GWR would be lost from the league, but a couple of former players have been tempted back into action with the result that the team has survived and prospered, while league numbers have been maintained at the present level of eight sides.
The Evesham League is run outside the conventional season to avoid a conflict with players snooker commitments and therefore reaches a conclusion in the autumn. In 2002 the League title was claimed by Evesham Servicemens Club, who edged out Offenham British Legion "A" by two points, with the remaining five teams locked together within three points of each other but someway distant behind the two principals. Offenham "A" suffered a season of near misses, for as well as just dipping out on the championship they were beaten in the final of the cup competition by Badsey British Legion, the Badsey men having excelled the previous year by doing the double.
The singles title has recently been dominated by Tony Baylis but, with Baylis taking a year off, League Secretary Dave Warner seized his opportunity to claim the honours by edging out Gordon Perkins (Pershore W.M.C) in a close, hard-fought final. Warner entertained hopes of adding to his success when he and partner John Haines reached the pairs final, but the Offenham two were unable to overcome the Servicemen duo Charlie Townsend and Bob Wood.
Gary Parker, who comfortably saw off the challenge of Ted Haughtey of Pershore Working Mens in the final, took the handicap singles competition. This was a good performance from Parker in his first full season at the three-ball game and his achievement was further recognised by him also receiving an award for "best newcomer". The highest break of the season, a 49, came from Offenham's "Ticker" Thompson, a fairly recent convert from snooker who clearly used his potting skills to advantage to out-do the more experienced billiards exponents.