Jason Green wasted little time in laying down a marker in the Spalding and District Snooker League as he made an impressive 70 break on the opening night of the season.
The cue ace helped steer defending Division One champions Pyramid B to a 4-2 victory over last year’s runners-up Holbeach A in the pick of last Thursday’s Division One fixtures.
Green (O56), Dave Pearson (O14) and Alfonso Palumbo (O42) clinched a comeback win for the Bourne boys, with Mick Ayres (O14) and Jem Merrison (O35) having put Holbeach 2-0 ahead early on.
The early pace is being set by Services A, who crushed Tulips B 6-0 in an all-Spalding affair. Their highlight was a 22 clearance from Mike Knight (O14) in the first frame.
Also starting well were Holbeach D. They swept aside Pyramid A 5-1 in a game that saw Dennis Hix (R7) close out his frame with a 22 clearance.
Elsewhere, promoted Whittlesey A made a flying start to life in the top flight with a 5-1 home haul against Crowland C.
Whittlesey, who boast experience galore and a combined team age of 367, were helped by a cool 22 clearance from Terry Everitt (O14).
There was another 5-1 triumph for Donington C, who had too much for Division Two champions Consti F.
Donington – who only missed out on the title by seven points last year – were buoyed by frame wins from Lee Hempsall (R7), Neil Reynolds (O49), Ben Wrigglesworth (scr) and Neil Favell (O14).
In Division Two, Mark Gray made a typical 53 break in Bourne SC A’s 4-2 home triumph over Consti I.
Gray, the league’s highest handicapped player at O98, actually lost his frame to David Twelves (R14).
However, Carl Gibson (O7), Michael Byrne (R14) and Ian Clare (O14) delivered the goods for a side that missed out on promotion by a solitary point last time around.
Consti G made a winning start at home to relegated Long Sutton D, with Seb Grimston (O21), Andy Grimwood (O14) and Paul Johnson (R21) their victors in a 4-2 triumph.
Johnson also trousered a 22 break in his solo success.
It was tight in Crowland B’s tussle with Services B, too. In the end hosts Crowland shaded it 4-2, thanks to frame wins from Derek Tinkler (O7), Russell Morse (O7) and Jeff Roberts (R7).
Consti B made the best start, though, as they picked up a 5-1 victory at Pyramid D.
Down in Division Three, 5-1 was the order of the day in four of the fixtures.
Gosberton D got their campaign rolling with a five-point haul at Donington B thanks to frame returns from Marcus Pell (O21), Paul Whyte (scr), Jack Craft (R21) and Nigel Goodwin (R21).
They were only denied a clean-sweep by Mick Clark’s (R7) win over Shane Davies (O21) on a re-spotted black in the final frame.
Elsewhere, a 22 clearance from Ray Digby (R21) wrapped up Consti D’s 5-1 away win at fellow club side Consti J.
Their other frame victories came from Dave Ingle (R21), Bill McGowan (R21) and Tom Digby (R14).
There was an all-Whittlesey affair that finished 5-1 too, with the C team getting the better of the B brigade.
In a game closer than the score suggests, Andy Gebbie (R7), Steve Jennings (O21), Graeme Sawyer (O14) and Mick Blythe (R14) delivered the goods.
Consti C complete the list of 5-1 winners, having dispatched friendly foes Consti A.
- Results: Division One: Services A 6 Tulips B 0; Whittlesey A 5 Crowland C 1; Tulips A 4 Services E 2; Consti F 1 Donington C 5; Pyramid B 4 Holbeach A 2; Holbeach D 5 Pyramid A 1; Holbeach C 0 Sutton B 6.
- Division Two: Consti G 4 Sutton D 2; Bourne SC A 4 Consti I 2; Crowland B 4 Services B 2; Gosberton A 4 Holbeach B 2; Pyramid D 1 Consti B 5.
- Division Three: Donington B 1 Gosberton D 5; Whittlesey C 5 Whittlesey B 1; Consti J 1 Consti D 5; Consti A 1 Consti C 5; Boundary C 2 Gosberton C 4; Long Sutton C 2 Consti E 4; Pyramid E 5 Donington D 1.
