With three fixtures to play in the Spalding and District Billiards League Billiards Shield competition, there were outside chances that teams could qualify for the semi finals.
Gosberton’s chances were dismissed by Holbeach A, as Jason Rose (o5) took the first frame against Des Forbes (r60), 200-161. Holbeach’s John Dawson (r60) had his best game of the season as he thumped Marcus Pell (o55) 200-19. Dawson also now leads the highest break by a “receive player” with a lovely 41. Mick Cooper (o205) took on Shane White (o40) and ran out 200-178 winner, with breaks of 36, 35, 25, 24 and 22.
In Division B, Donington A had two matches to play. They entertained Services and it was the away team that guaranteed their semi final slot with a 2-1 victory.
They lost the first frame as Vince Fitter (r10) was defeated by Tony Scully (r35) 200-155, but Phil Spencer (r80) levelled the scores with a 200-152 win against Nigel Brasier (r30). Nigel Cherry (r75) took on Ben Wrigglesworth (r15), but he held his nerve to run out a comfortable winner.
The remaining fixture saw Donington A travel to Pyramid A and Pyramid were 2-1 winners.
John Clapton (r115) put the home team one up with a win against Scully. Wrigglesworth made it all square as he defeated Neil McLean (r95). A winning margin of just two points went the way of Pyramid in the final game, as John Twell (r50) held on against Brasier, who had a 37 break.
Pyramid B, winners of Division A, took on Division B runners up, Services.
The semi finals and finals have reverted to aggregate points, so the last players have a part to play.
Pyramid B made it to the final as they won all three games.
Maurice Phillipson, of Pyramid, took on Spencer both on r80, winning 200-172.
Phil Cooke (r105) played Fitter (r10), of Services, and had a comfortable 200-146 win, so this meant Services would have to win the last frame by 83 points.
Chris Dunmore (o5), of Services, played Pyramid captain Darrell Read (r30) and Read won by just four points.
So Pyramid B would face either Division B winners Broadway or the runners in Division A, Donington B in the final.
Mick Pearl (r20) in his first season at billiards put Donington one up as he had a 200-113 win against Andy Wheatley (o5).
Broadway’s Steve Singh (o50) pulled them level as he defeated Neil Reynolds (o50) 200-171, Reynolds making breaks of 46 and 34.
This would mean that Broadway’s Roxton Chapman (o290), the best player in the league, really would have to have the game of his life and defeat Neil Burton (r65) by 58 points or more.
Chapman gave it a good go with breaks of 7, 67, 50, 38, 25, 23 and 21, however Burton reached his target of 143 and they ended the game with Chapman on 155 and Burton on 144, meaning Donington won 515 to 468.
The final is on Friday, April 10 at 7pm at Services Club, High Street, Spalding, as part of the Spalding and District Snooker and Billiards Leagues finals weekend from Thursday, April 9 to Sunday, April 12, anyone is welcome to go along and watch.
