Not even a stellar 87 clearance from Mark Gray could stop Spalding and District Snooker League Division One leaders Pyramid A on the first round of fixtures in 2022.
In an all-Bourne affair on Thursday night, table-toppers Pyramid A saw off their rivals Bourne SC A 4-2 in a game that also had three frames go to the final black.
Cue ace Gray, the league’s most heavily handicapped player on O105, won one of those tight tussles after bagging a break of 33 before his colossal clearance.
But it was wins from Victor Rouse (scr), Michael Twell (R14) and Norman Vaughan (O14) that got the job done for Pyramid, who stay clear at the summit.
Club mates Pyramid C also started the year in fine style as they saw off Services A 5-1 in Bourne.
Jason Green (O63), Spencer Dawkins (O56) and Tony Curry (O21) bagged breaks of 37, 33 and 22 for the victors in that one.
Staying in the top tier, Services C edged out Consti E 4-2 in an all-Spalding clash.
A 25 clearance from Shane Cummins (O21) was the highlight there.
In Division Two, pace-setters Sutton Bridge A carried on their fine form from the first half of the season with a 5-1 success at Gosberton A.
Their frame wins came from Glenn Ryan (O14), Mick Tiller (scr), Wayne Howard (O21) and Tiller again.
It was closer between Services E and Holbeach E, with the latter edging to a 4-2 triumph.
Ben Harding (O28), Stuart Sullivan (O21) and Phil Coaten (O14) all chipped in with breaks of 27, 25 and 24 respectively for the winners.
Also in the second tier, Whittlesey C pipped Bourne SC C on the final black of the game to prevail 4-2.
Despite a 20 break from James Kingston, Simon Parker (scr) got the job done for Whittlesey by beating Martin Ulyatt (O7) 57-44 in the decider.
Down in Division Three, second-placed Gosberton B suffered a 4-2 defeat at Whittlesey A.
Graeme Sawyer (O14) and Malc Bruce (O7) both made 22 clearances, with the latter’s settling the game in Whittlesey’s favour.
The big winners at this level were Const J, who saw off friendly foes Consti C 5-1 in an all-club affair.
This clash was all over when Neville Vickers (R7) won the third frame.
Meanwhile, a 24 break from Brad Brinkman (O14) helped steer Gosberton D to a 4-2 victory over Consti A in another game that was decided inside three frames.
The score was also 4-2 as Whittlesey B picked up the lion’s share of the points at Services D.
Kay Skutela’s (R21) fourth-frame win sealed it.
