Consti F made an eye-catching start to the new Spalding and District Snooker League Division One season as they beat much-fancied Bourne SC A 5-1 on the opening night of action.
Despite seeing Bourne star Mark Gray (O105) win the opening frame – making a 36 break in the process – Consti won the next four thanks to Warren Peel (O7), Chris English (R14), Bryan Turnell (R14) and Robert Adams (O21).
Carl Gibson (O28) made a 21 break in vain for visitors Bourne, while Adams rounded off the win with a 28 break.
Elsewhere in the top flight, two solid breaks from Bren Bowman (O49) couldn’t stop Tulips A from losing 4-2 at home to Holbeach D.
Talisman Bowman made scores of 37 and 30 as he beat Neil Grant (R7), but it was wins from Donald Monk (O7), Paul Daw (O14) and Ian Woodberry (R7) that saw Holbeach home.
Defending champions Donington A slipped to a 4-2 loss against fellow club side Donington C in a game that saw Ben Wrigglesworth (O14) make a 20 break.
Graham Slator (R14) beat Sam Major (O28) in the decider to clinch the win for the jubilant C side.
Whittlesey A also got off to a flier with a 5-1 success at Boundary A – thanks largely to two key black-ball wins.
Gary Thewliss (scr) and John Forsyth (O7) took those two frames at the death to secure the success.
It was close between Services A and Pyramid A too, with Jon Bettinson (scr) edging it 4-2 for the Spalding side with a last-gasp black-ball triumph over Bourne potter John Twell (O14).
In Division Two, Long Sutton A made a stellar start as they saw off hosts Gosberton A 5-1.
Stuart Atkin’s (O35) 33 break in a black-ball win over Peter Waterfall (R14) was the highlight.
Sutton’s B side also clashed with Gosberton’s D squad in the same division, with the latter taking the honours 4-2 this time.
Marcus Pell (O21) managed a 22 clearance in that one.
That feat was matched by Damian Lewis (R7) for Holbeach C, but he saw Consti I beat his side 4-2.
Dan Ashton (R7) also sank a 24 break for Holbeach.
Meanwhile, Martin Drury’s (R14) cool 29 break helped Consti G to a 4-2 success at Crowland C.
Down in Division Three, two sides kicked off with maximum 6-0 wins.
Consti A handed friendly foes Consti E a whitewash, with a black-ball victory from Nick Savic (O49) their closest call.
Crowland A were the other side to pull in six points, knocking off Consti J in the process.
Long Sutton C also started in fine fashion as they beat hosts Whittlesey B 4-2.
Breaks of 26 and 24 from Dan Mayfield (O21) and Mark Dennis (O7) in frame wins proved key for them.
The closest game at this level saw Gosberton C pip hosts Pyramid E 4-2, thanks to a Malc Dennis (R14) beating Neil McLean (scr) on the final black of the match. Donington B also saw off club rivals Donington D 4-2.
Results
Division One: Tulips A 2 Holbeach D 4; Boundary A 1 Whittlesey A 5; Consti F 5 Bourne SC A 1; Services A 4 Pyramid A 2; Donington C 4 Donington A 2.
Division Two: Boundary C 2 Services F 4; Long Sutton B 2 Gosberton D 4; Gosberton A 1 Long Sutton A 5; Holbeach C 2 Consti I 4; Crowland C 2 Consti G 4.
Division Three: Consti A 6 Consti E 0; Crowland A 6 Consti J 0; Donington D 2 Donington B 4; Pyramid E 2 Gosberton C 4; Whittlesey B 2 Long Sutton C 4.