Down to earth for champions

Monday saw the start of the Spalding and District Billiards League season and new team, Gosberton B, started their campaign with a 5-2 home win against Services.
Gosberton’s James Parrott (r60) lost out to Vince Fitter (r10) by nine points. But the match was levelled when Jamie Mumby (r70) beat Nigel Cherry (r80). In the final frame, Paolo Gensiorskyj (R60) for Gosberton came out on top beating Phil Spencer (r80) 200-177.
Donington A are top after a 5-2 win at home to Pyramid B. Tony Scully (r40) kicked things off for Donington with a win over Maurice Phillipson (r80), but it was all square after Pyramid’s Phil Cooke (r110) beat Jim Thompson (r80). Jason Bloomfield (r70) got the points for Donington as he defeated Darrell Read (r30).
In second place is Holbeach A who had a 5-2 home win against Gosberton A. Jason Rose (scr) edged out Gosberton’s Des Forbes (r60) by 16 points. Mick Cooper (o200) was in steady form as he beat Shane White (o40) 200-113, knocking in six breaks, including a 52. Hoping for a whitewash was Ben Harding (scr) against Marcus Pell (o50), but it was Pell who won 200-173.
Champions and Billiard Shield holders Donington B were knocked back to earth with a 5-2 defeat to Consti. Alan Hansard (r70) for Consti won by 20 points against Mick Pearl (r20), a four-point victory for Neil Reynolds (o50) put Donington to one all as he narrowly defeated John Bellerby (r110). Stewart Davies (r50) took the points for Consti with a 200-187 win against Neil Burton (r70).
The tightest of matches was between Pyramid A and Holbeach B, where Holbeach came away with a 5-2 win, taking the aggregate points by just ten. Denis Hix of Holbeach (r70) pipped John Clapton (r120), putting Holbeach two up was Andy Spearman (r80) as he defeated Oli Player (r60) but John Twell (r60) for Pyramid got the two points for them, as he won by just nine points against Neil Harvey (r30). Harvey and Player both scoring breaks of 28 in their matches.
The other team in the league, Broadway, had a free week.
Last season saw the trial of adjustments of handicaps weekly by five points depending on a win or loss for players. This year the figure is now adjusted by ten points.