Reigning champions Consti E and last season’s runners-up Services C were both beaten on the opening evening of the new Spalding and District League season.
Promoted Gosberton A got off to a flyer with a 3-2 win at Consti E, despite breaks of 29 and 25 by the hosts’ Gavin Hallgarth (o21) and Sean Jeynes (o14) respectively. Adam Twigg (o7) struck a 24 in his win, to go with successes for Alan Jackson (scr) and Geoff Waud (r7) as they hit back from 2-0 down.
Services C crashed 4-1 at Holbeach D with Nigel Cherry (o7) winning the last frame to prevent a whitewash. Home successes came from Andy Spearman (scr), Paul Daw (o28), Wayne Fobelets (o21) and Denis Hix (r7).
Division Two champions Boundary A were beaten in their first game at the higher level, going down 3-2 at Services A, despite Pete King (o7) winning the opening frame and Daniel Smith (o21) putting them 2-1 up with a 21 break after Phil Spencer (o14) had levelled. Martin Spencer (o28) pulled things square and then Jake Haslam (o14) had a clearance of 27 in his match-deciding win over Elliott Cox (scr) to complete the comeback.
There was also a defeat for Services D, who gained elevation following the loss of Bourne SC from the top level. Pyramid F emerged 4-1 victors at the new boys with Mark Gray (o98) impressing with a 64 break to go alongside one of 44 from Pete Hodgson-Kerry (o28). Carl Gibson (o21) and Oli Player (o28) were their other winners after Joel Shears (r14) had won the opening frame for the hosts.
Last season’s third-placed finishers Pyramid C made a solid start with a 4-1 win against Consti H. George Neary-Phillipson (o21) opened with a 34 break in his black-ball win against Adam Mayman (o28), who responded with one of 32. Spencer Dawkins (o56) made it 2-0 but Mark German (o28) pulled one back. Dave Pearson (o14) confirmed the points, with Richard Skellett (021) hitting a 23 break on his way to wrapping things up.
Consti G beat Holbeach C 3-2 thanks to wins from Nathan Wilson (o14), Darren Woodberry (o42) and Martin Deacon (o14).
Donington C were beaten 3-2 at home by Pyramid D, despite Neil Reynolds’ (o63) 52 break in his defeat to Marcus Hamilton (o28), who had a break of 26. Josh Agger (o28) and Pete Sharpe-Grose (r7) were the other away winners. Home victors Mick Pearl (o21) and Ben Wrigglesworth (o28) both had breaks of 26.
Holbeach B were the only one of Division Two’s newcomers to enjoy a victory, with the Division One wooden-spoonists pulling off a 3-2 success at Whittlesey C, thanks to two winning frames from Barry Hayes (scr) and one from Pete Mullane (o21), who had a break of 24. Home successes came from John Willis (r7) and Neil Burton (o7).
Fellow relegation sufferers Pyramid A were well beaten 4-1 at home by Donington A. Victor Rouse (r7) had got them off to a good start with a black-ball win but all the other frames went in favour of the away side, courtesy of Sean Pickering (r7), Kevin Hawes (o14), Jim Thompson (scr) and Tony Scully (o42), who hit a 22 break.
Phil Cooke (r7) put Division Three champions Pyramid B ahead but they eventually lost 3-2 at home to Services B. Andy Neal (r7), Paul Doades (scr) and Jeff Collins (scr) made it 3-1 before Roy Jackson (r14) book-ended the result with another home win.
Whittlesey A, who also came up from the level below, were beaten 3-2 at Holbeach A. They went ahead through Graham Prentice (o14) but Matt Tomblin (r7) and Steve Dent (scr) put them behind before Graeme Sawyer (o14) made it 2-2, despite a 24 break from Mark Woodberry (o56). It was left to Stuart Atkin (o42) to pot a 36 break on his way to settling the points.
Consti F are early front runners thanks to a 4-1 victory over Pyramid E, with a pair of wins for Martyn Stanley (r14) and one each for Robert Adams (o7) and Justyn Stanley (scr) after Steve Thompson (r14) had won the opening frame.
The Holbeach derby went in favour of the ‘visiting’ E team, who beat their F counterparts 3-2, with the hosts winning the first and last frames courtesy of David Lefley (r28) and Alex Bourne (o21). The meat in the sandwich proved stronger though, with Chris O’Leary (o21) striking a break of 24 to go with wins from Ethan Lawrence (r14) and James Crampton (o14).
Newcomers Holbeach G were 3-2 losers at last season’s bottom team Gosberton C on their league bow, despite a battling comeback. James Elliott (o14) and Chris Sibley (r14) sent the home side clear but Dave Willy (o7) and Stuart Sullivan (o28) hit back to level. Sullivan’s win included a break of 22. It was left to Stuart Henderson (scr) to beat Ian Woodberry (o7) 67-41 to decide the result.
Consti I will be hoping for a swift return to Division Two after opening their Division Three campaign with a 3-2 win at clubmates Consti C. Phil Tweddell (r7) and John Bellerby (r7) pushed them clear but Terry George (r7) halved the deficit. David Twelves (scr) secured the points before Kevin Sweeney (r7) struck again for the hosts.
Donington D went to the top of the opening night table with a 4-1 success against Donington B, thanks to wins from Geoff Harris (r28), Kevin Goodenough (o21), Paul Whyte (r7) and Dan Sandy (scr). Mick Clark (r14) got the sole ‘away’ point.
Consti club honours went to the ‘visitors’ with the D side emerging on top 3-2 against the J team but they had to work hard after John Pike (r14) and Neil Grant (r7) had put them 2-0 up. Warren Peel (o7) and Nev Vickers (r14) pulled things level before Tom Digby (r14) got the visitors back on track in the deciding frame.
Wins from Paul Kent (r7), Nigel Steadman (scr) and Bill Prosser (o7) secured a 3-2 away win for Consti A at Whittlesey B. Michael Foster (o14) and Pawel Skutela (r14) were the home winners.
No result was received from the Boundary B versus Gosberton B encounter.
Results: Division One – Consti E 2 Gosberton A 3, Consti G 3 Holbeach C 2, Donington C 2 Pyramid D 3, Holbeach D 4 Services C 1, Pyramid C 4 Consti H 1, Services A 3 Boundary A 2, Services D 1 Pyramid F 4.
Division Two – Consti F 4 Pyramid E 1, Holbeach A 3 Whittlesey A 2, Holbeach F 2 Holbeach E 3, Pyramid A 1 Donington A 4, Pyramid B 2 Services B 3, Whittlesey C 2 Holbeach B 3.
Division Three – Boundary B v Gosberton B – no result, Consti C 2 Consti I 3, Consti J 2 Consti D 3, Donington D 4 Donington B 1, Gosberton C 3 Holbeach G 2, Whittlesey B 2 Consti A 3.
