Holbeach A moved four points clear at the top of Spalding and District Snooker League Division One with a battling 4-2 victory at Boundary A last Thursday night.
Frame victories from Jem Merrison (O35), who made a 32 break, Mick Ayres Jnr (R14) and Mark Hubbard (O14) did the job for Holbeach, who have now won seven of their first eight games.
Behind them, second-placed Bourne SC A crashed 4-2 at Holbeach D as they suffered a third loss of the new campaign.
That allowed third-placed Donington A, who have a game in hand, to move within a point of the Bourne boys after they saw off hosts Pyramid A 4-2. Tony Scully’s (O14) final frame success over John Twell (O21) settled that one.
Elsewhere in the top flight, Donington C picked up a 4-2 home triumph over defending champions Tulips B.
Breaks of 32 and 20 from Neil Reynolds (O49) and Ben Wrigglesworth (O7) respectively were the highlight for Donington, while Tulips continue to toil at the wrong end of the table.
The all-Spalding affair between Tulips A and Services E went down to the wire, with Services eventually emerging as 4-2 victors. Jason Rose (O14) made a 25 break en-route to winning the final frame for Services, while Simon Law (O7) did manage a 27 break for Tulips.
The best break in the top tier came from Sutton A’s Sean Swinburn (O42). He managed a cool 41 as his side won 5-1 at Consti B, with Mat Smith (O42) adding a fine 38.
Crowland C top Division Two by a solitary point following their 4-2 home win over Consti F. Richard Wesley’s (R7) 28 break was their highlight.
Pyramid B are hot on their heels in second after an impressive 5-1 victory at Holbeach C. They were inspired by Alfonso Palumbo (O42), who made a super 56 break, and Jason Green (O56), who added a fine 32.
Friendly foes Pyramid C are also going great guns in third following their 5-1 home win over Gosberton D. Shane Davies (O14) made a 25 break in vain for the losers.
Also going well are Services C in fourth. They were 5-1 winners at Consti I, with Mark Spiller (scr), Jordan Philpott (R21), Geoff Hemsil (R21) and Kev Fitter (O7) all on frame-winning form.
At the other end of the table, Services D bagged a morale-boosting 5-1 triumph over Pyramid D as Tanya Peel (scr) made a 19 break.
In Division Three, a 32 break in a black-ball win from Oliver Turner (O21) steered Services F to the top as they dispatched Donington B 5-1.
Gosberton A are second after their 4-2 victory over Pyramid E. A 22 break from James Waterfall (O14) and Geoff Wand’s (R21) final frame win proved key.
Consti A have slipped to third following their 5-1 defeat at Bourne SC B. Darren Crosby (O21) pocketed a 22 break as he won the final frame of that clash.
Elsewhere, a 22 clearance from Martin Perkins (O21) couldn’t stop Consti D losing 5-1 at home to Whittlesey B – who toasted their first win of the season.
Division One: Tulips A 2 Services E 4; Donington C 4 Tulips B 2; Boundary A 2 Holbeach A 4; Pyramid A 2 Donington A 4; Consti B 1 Sutton A 5; Holbeach D 4 Bourne SC A 2.
Division Two: Pyramid C 5 Gosberton D 1; Crowland C 4 Consti F 2; Gosberton B 2 Boundary C 4; Services D 5 Pyramid D 1; Consti I 1 Services C 5; Consti H 2 Holbeach B 4.
Division Three: Services F 5 Bourne SC B 1; Pyramid E 2 Whittlesey C 4; Gosberton A 4 Pyramid E 2; Donington D 4 Consti J 2; Services F 5 Donington B 1; Whittlesey C 4 Consti E 2; Bourne SC B 5 Consti A 1; Consti D 1 Whittlesey B 5.
KO Cup: Consti G 3 Donington D 2; Holbeach A 3 Pyramid D 1; Pyramid A 5 Holbeach B 0; Pyramid B 3 Consti D 2; Whittlesey B 2 Holbeach D 3; Bourne SC B 3 Services A 2; Tulips A 2 Bourne SC A 3; Consti J 2 Consti A 3; Gosberton B 3 Tulips B 1.
