Long Sutton’s bid to become the first-ever side to win three Spalding and District Billiards League titles on the spin suffered another blow on Monday night.
The leaders slipped to their second defeat on the bounce – for the first time this season – as Consti A handed them a 5-2 reverse on the Spalding baize.
A 48 break from Mick Cooper (O100), who won the opening frame for Sutton, wasn’t enough for them as Lindsay Porter (R50) and Bob Adams (R40) took the next two to seal the lion’s share of the points.
Adams also made breaks of 38 and 32 as he beat Adam Barwell (O50) in the decider, with the Sutton ace notching a 37 himself.
Crowland B, one of their two close rivals, closed to within four points of the table-toppers with a battling 4-3 triumph at Holbeach B.
In the closest game of the week, an unfinished 35 from Denis Hix (R70) wasn’t enough for Holbeach as Paul Holland (R80) and Roger Goodliffe (R110) managed nervy 200-198 frame wins over
Nigel Ward (R40) and Ashley Bunn (R40) respectively.
The score was also 4-3 as Consti B picked up an impressive away success at Pyramid B.
All looked to going to plan for the Bourne side when Maurice Phillipson (R80) knocked off the mighty Mick Johnson (O170) – who made a 33 break – in the opening frame.
However, Steve Spencer (R80) and John Keeton (R30), who pocketed a 31 break, delivered the goods for the Spalding side.
Completing a hat-trick of 4-3 scorelines were Gosberton A and Holbeach A, with the latter running out as victors. Des Forbes (R60) beat Malc Dennis (R120) 200-196 in a close final frame to settle that one.
