The title race in Spalding and District Snooker League Division One is very much alive after Pyramid B gained five points on long-term leaders Donington C last Thursday night.
Table-topping Donington suffered what was perhaps the worst night of their season so far, going down 6-0 at home to Whittlesey A.
Two frame wins from Laurie Smith (R14), plus victories from John Willis (scr), Andy Blythe (O14) and Malc Bruce (O7), ensured it was a night to remember for Whittlesey – and one to forget for the leaders.
Second-placed Pyramid B cashed in on that result, beating Consti F 5-1 on the Bourne baize to move to within two points of the summit.
Jason Green (O63) led the way with breaks of 29, 28 and 24, while Keith Duly (O21) finished his frame win with a 22 clearance.
Holbeach A, nine points off the pace in third, also kept themselves in the title discussion with a 4-2 home success against Boundary B.
Mick Pearl (O14) clinched the victory for them in the penultimate frame, making a 25 break in the process.
However, fourth-placed Tulips B missed the chance to propel themselves into the battle. They went down 4-2 at Services A, with Jon Bettinson (O7) beating Joe Garland (scr) on the final black of the match to clinch the points for his side.
Elsewhere in the top tier, Steve Smith (O14) and Bren Bowman (O56) made clearances of 27 and 22 respectively as Tulips A saw off Services E 5-1.
Kev Fitter’s (O21) 30 break was in vain for Services C, who were handed a 5-1 home reverse by Pyramid A.
In Division Two, it was also a bad week for the leaders.
Long Sutton A slumped 5-1 at Holbeach C to allow stable-mates Long Sutton B to close to within a point of top spot.
Sutton B dispatched visitors Holbeach B 5-1, with Carl Parnell (O35) making a 30 break and both Mick Tiller (scr) and Wayne Howard (O21) racking up 25 clearances.
There was, though, an untimely slip-up from third-placed Services F.
They crashed 5-1 at Consti G, despite a 23 break from Jack Chilvers (O7).
Consti B, in fourth, had no such trouble in beating friendly foes Consti I 5-1 to move to within six points of the leaders.
Black-ball victories from John Christian (scr) and Mick Johnson (O35) were key for the title hopefuls.
Away from the title race, a 23 break from Malcolm Croft (R7) wasn’t enough to stop Pyramid C slipping up 5-1 at home to Boundary C.
Gosberton A also picked up a timely triumph, beating visitors Whittlesey C 4-2.
James Waterfall (O14) sealed that success in frame four of five.
In Division Three, meanwhile, the top two are separated by just two points.
With table-topping Crowland A 4-2 winners over third-placed Services B, chief rivals Long Sutton C did cut their advantage by one point as they prevailed 5-1 at Consti D.
A 36 break from Martin Perkins (O28) proved to be in vain for the hosts, with Dan Mayfield (O28), Mark Dennis (O14), David Lefley (O7) and Keith Wells (O28) all picking up frame victories.
Fourth-placed Gosberton C have dropped ten points off the pace after slipping up 5-1 at Donington D – who edge clear of the bottom.
Ken Staples (R14) won the final frame on the last black to make it a five-point haul for the home side.
Elsewhere, 4-2 wins were the order of the day for three sides. Donington B missed the chance to go third as Whittlesey B upset them, while Consti E dispatched Pyramid E and Consti J defeated rivals Consti A.
