Donington A have stormed to the top of Spalding and District Snooker League’s Division One after beating title rivals Holbeach A 5-1 on Thursday night.
Having also seen off Tulips A 5-1 in a rearranged match, Donington’s triumph sees them move three points clear at the summit.
Black-ball wins from Jim Thompson (O7) and Neil Favell (O14) proved key for them, while Tony Scully (O14) added a 20 break.
That rendered Jem Merrison’s (O35) 34 clearance as mere consolation for Holbeach, who are now third.
Bourne SC A are second after they beat Long Sutton A 5-1 in a top notch contest.
A 22 clearance in a key black-ball win helped Mark Gray (O105) beat Derek Beba (O14) 124-122, while other wins from Carl Gibson (O14), Michael Byrne (R7) and Oliver Player (O23) got the Bourne boys over the line.
Behind the top trio, Pyramid A are now fourth following their 4-2 triumph over champions Tulips B.
A 39 clearance from Norman Vaughan (O14) was the higlight, while Eric Wyer (scr) beat Martin Deacon on the decisive final frame.
Tulips A remain in the top six after a battling 4-2 victory at Whittlesey A.
Mike Sampson (scr) settled that one in the penultimate frame, while Nick Savic (O35) bagged a 21 break.
In Division Two, Crowland C are one point ahead of the chasing pack after they dispatched Services D 4-2.
Joel Shears (R7) chipped in with a fine 31 break for the leaders, while Paul Spicer (O7) won the final frame to seal the lion’s share of the points.
Second place is currently occupied by Pyramid B after they edged out third-placed Consti I 4-2 in the leading game at this level.
Big breaks of 56 and 37 from Jason Green (O56) and Spencer Dawkins (O49) lit up that contest, but it was Dave Pearson (O7) who won the fourth frame for the Bourne side.
That allowed Holbeach C to close to within one point of Consti I – and two from top spot – after they saw off Gosberton B 4-2.
This one went the distance, but Paul Ashton (R7) edged out Shaun Harvey (O21) 60-26 at the death.
That meant David Nichols’ (R21) 22 clearance was ultimately in vain.
Elsewhere in the second tier, breaks of 33 and 30 from Marcus Hamilton (O35) gave Pyramid D a 4-2 victory over Consti H.
Down in Division Three, leaders Services F suffered a rare 4-2 defeat against Consti J. Frame wins from Nev Vickers (R7), Nick Keeble (O21) and Les Andrews (scr) were enough for Consti – and handed Services only a second loss of the campaign.
Third-placed Whittlesey C took the chance to close the sizeable gap at the top with a 6-0 romp at Donington D.
They are now eight points off top spot, but do have a game in hand.
Fourth-placed Consti A were beaten 4-2 by friendly foes Consti C, though.
They got the job done early, with Pat Bowman (R21), Graham Howard (R7) and Mick Peet (R14) winning three of the first four frames.
The best individual performance in the basement tier came from Pete Hodgson-Kerry (O21), who made a 31 break and 22 clearance in Bourne SC B’s 4-2 success at Whittlesey B.
In-form Long Sutton C also picked up a 4-2 triumph as they defeated hosts Pyramid E. Jim O’Donnell (O14), Dan Mayfield (O21) and David Lefley (scr) got the job done for them.
Results
Division One: Sutton B 4 Holbeach D 2; Consti F 4 Boundary A 2; Bourne SC A 5 Sutton A 1; Tulips B 2 Pyramid A 4; Whittlesey A 2 Tulips A 4; Holbeach A 1 Donington A 5; Donington C 4 Services A 2.
Division Two: Holbeach C 4 Gosberton B 2; Crowland C 4 Services D 2; Gosberton D 2 Crowland A 4; Pyramid D 4 Consti H 2; Pyramid B 4 Consti I 2.
Division Three: Consti J 4 Services F 2; Whittlesey B 2 Bourne SC B 4; Consti A 2 Consti C 4; Pyramid F 2 Sutton C 4; Services B 2 Consti D 4; Gosberton C 6 Donington B 0; Donington D 0 Whittlesey C 6.
