After five defeats on the bounce, Spalding and District Snooker League Division One leaders Donington A enjoyed a timely boost on Thursday.
The long-term pace-setters were 4-2 winners in their home clash with Pyramid A, while their two nearest rivals were suffering defeats.
Nigel Brasier (O7), Tony Scully (O21) and Jim Thompson (O7) were the frame winners for Donington – and it could have been even better for the table-toppers with Peter Keal (R7) and Neil Favell (O14) only beaten on the final black.
That win sees them go ten points clear of second-placed Bourne SC A, who were handed a 4-2 home reverse by Holbeach D in a really tight tussle.
There were three black-ball games in that one, with the last of them – Ian Woodberry’s win over Max Ayliff (O14) – proving key for a Holbeach side that are eyeing a top four finish.
It was an even worse night for third-placed Holbeach A, who are now 14 points off the pace following a 5-1 home hammering by relegation-threatened Boundary A.
A 21 break in a frame win from Barry Malthouse (R7) was the highlight for the Deepings side.
Fourth-placed Tulips A also slipped up as they went down 4-2 at Services E in an all-Spalding affair.
That win was sealed by a super 27 clearance from Vince Fitter in the penultimate frame.
Rounding off a bad week for the chasing pack, fifth-placed Tulips A were whitewashed 6-0 at champions Tulips B.
Breaks of 26 and 25 by Mark Woodberry (O49) and Darren Woodberry (O35) helped last year’s winners continue their fine form.
Elsewhere in the top flight, another of the struggling sides – Consti B – enjoyed a big 5-1 success at Long Sutton A. John Christian (scr), Steve Spencer (R21), Martin Fear (O7) and John Keeton (O7) all winners.
The best break in Division One came in Boundary B’s 4-2 success over Services A, with Mike Knight (O14) bagging a 35 for the Spalding side.
In Division Two, leaders Pyramid B enjoyed a fine 5-1 victory over Holbeach C to strengthen their grip on the title.
Breaks of 34 and 31 from Alfonso Palumbo (O49) and a super 41 from Jason Green (O63) steered the Bourne boys to their 17th league success of the campaign.
That saw them gain an additional four points on nearest rivals Consti G, who were beaten 5-1 on their own baize by Crowland C.
That result allowed Services C to leapfrog them into second with a 5-1 triumph over Consti I.
A 20 break from Kevin Fitter (O14) in the final frame helped them seal the points in style.
However, fourth-placed Boundary C couldn’t follow suite as they were beaten 4-2 at home by Gosberton B.
That one was over after just three frames, with David Nichols (R21), Martin Ulyatt (R7) and Adam Twigg (scr) all victorious.
The big winners in the second tier were Holbeach B, who whitewashed Consti H 6-0. That was, despite an amazing 23 break from Doug Garfoot (O14).
It was business as usual for Division Three leaders Services F, who beat basement boys Donington B 4-2. There was, however, three black-ball games in that one.
They now lead Whittlesey C by 12 points after the second-placed side won 5-1 at Consti E.
Again, this was a close one, with two of the matches going to the black. Lol Hailstone (R14) settled that clash in the penultimate frame.
Behind the top two, Consti C kept their promotion hopes alive with a 4-2 victory at Gosberton C. John Mumford’s (O21) black-ball success over Malc Dennis (O21) was the clincher.
Also winning well were Consti D and Gosberton A, who dispatched Whittlesey B and Pyramid E 5-1 respectively.
RESULTS
Division One: Services A 4 Pyramid A 2; Services E 4 Tulips A 2; Bourne SC A 2 Holbeach D 4; Whittlesey A 4 Sutton B 2; Tulips B 6 Donington C 0; Donington A 4 Pyramid A 2; Sutton A 1 Consti B 5; Boundary B 4 Services A 2; Holbeach A 1 Boundary A 5.
Division Two: Boundary C 2 Gosberton B 4; Services C 5 Consti I 1; Pyramid D 2 Services D 4; Pyramid B 5 Holbeach C 1; Holbeach B 6 Consti H 0; Gosberton D 1 Pyramid C 5; Consti G 1 Crowland C 5.
Division Three: Consti J 4 Donington D 2; Pyramid E 1 Gosberton A 5; Consti E 1 Whittlesey C 5; Gosberton C 2 Consti C 4; Gosberton C 2 Consti C 4; Whittlesey B 1 Consti I D 5; Donington B 2 Services F 4.
