Consti B produced a potentially season-defining performance as they turned the Spalding and District Snooker League Division One table upside down to beat leaders Donington A 5-1 on Thursday night.
In the bottom two at the start of play, the Spalding side held their nerve to win a very tight tussle that saw Steve Spencer (R21), John Christian (scr) and Mick Johnson (O21) all win black-ball games, while John Keeton (O7) rounded it off in the final frame.
Keeton also pocketed a 24 break, while Tony Scully (O21) returned fire for the leaders with a 35 break.
The table-toppers were fortunate that their nearest rivals also lost on what was a bad night for the high-fliers.
Second-placed Bourne SC did at least gain one point on the long-term leaders despite going down 4-2 at basement side Boundary A.
Breaks of 38 and 21 from Mark Gray (O98) and Carl Gibson (O21) respectively weren’t enough for the Bourne boys in a game that was over after three frames.
Also beaten 4-2 were third-placed Holbeach A, who went down at Tulips A. Simon Law (O14) settled that one in the penultimate frame.
In-form champions Tulips B kept their winning streak going with a 4-2 away win at Services A as they kept their faint hopes of retaining the crown alive. It might have been 6-0 but for black-ball wins from Colin Knight (O7) and Mike Knight (O14).
In Division Two, Consti G boosted their Division Two title hopes with a 4-2 victory at Services D .
This one went down to the wire, with John Barnes (O7) edging out Tanya Peel (R7) in the final frame.
Below them, Boundary C’s promotion hopes were dealt a blow by a 4-2 reverse at Pyramid C.
Again, there was very little between the teams as Alan Jackson (scr) settled the contest by beating Ash Heywood (scr) at the death.
At the other end of the table, Crowland B did their hopes of staying up the power of good by beating Holbeach B 4-2.
Elsewhere, Marcus Hamilton’s (O42) 38 break couldn’t stop Pyramid D losing 5-1 at Gosberton B.
In Division Three, breaks of 31 and 24 helped leaders Services F beat Whittlesey B 4-2 to make it 20 wins from 23 matches this season.
Nearest rivals Whittlesey C went down 4-2 against Consti J, meaning Services are now 14 points clear at the top.
That result gave third-placed Gosberton A a boost in their bid for a top two finish. They dispatched Consti E 5-1 and are now within striking distance.
Bourne SC B’s hopes of promotion were hit by a super show from Long Sutton C, who won 5-1 in Bourne. David Lefley (scr) and Stuart Atkin (O35) made breaks of 22 and 20 respectively in that one.
RESULTS
Division One: Services A 2 Tulips B 4; Tulips A 4 Holbeach A 2; Sutton B 2 Consti F 4; Consti B 5 Donington A 1; Pyramid A 1 Services E 5; Boundary A 4 Bourne SC A 2; Donington C 2 Whittlesey A 4.
Division Two: Gosberton B 5 Pyramid D 1; Pyramid C 4 Boundary C 2; Consti I 4 Gosberton D 2; Crowland B 4 Holbeach B 2; Services D 2 Consti G 4.
Division Three: Services F 4 Whittlesey B 2; Gosberton A 5 Consti E 1; Whittlesey C 2 Consti J 4; Bourne SC B 1 Sutton C 5; Donington B 2 Services B 4.
