It’s tight at the top of Spalding and District Snooker League Division Two after leaders Crowland C slipped up last week.
There’s just a point between the top trio after Consti I edged out Crowland 4-2. That win was sealed by Richard Geddes’ (R14) final frame victory over Joel Shears (R7).
Paul Spiller (O7) did register a 22 break for the title hopefuls, but they are now level on points with Pyramid B at the top of the tree.
That’s because the Bourne side picked up an impressive 5-1 success at Holbeach B.
Neil Harvey’s (O14) 26 break was in vain for the South Holland side, with Alfonso Palumbo (O42), Keith Duly (O7), Dave Pearson (O7) and David Taylor-Martin (R14) all winners for Pyramid – who have a game in hand on Crowland C.
Just a point behind the top two – and also having played a game less than Crowland – are third-placed Services C. They were 4-2 winners over Pyramid D.
Elsewhere in the second tier, a 22 clearance from Nigel Goodwin (R14) couldn’t help Gosberton D as they were handed a 4-2 reverse by visitors Boundary C.
Aidan Sutton (R21) and Andy Whiting (R7) won the last two frames to get the job done for the Deepings lads.
Up in Division One, Donington A continued their relentless winning ways with a 4-2 triumph over defending champions Tulips B.
Joe Garland (scr) and Darren Woodberry (O35) made breaks of 24 and 21 respectively for the Spalding side, but Peter Keal’s (R14) last-gasp frame win over Mark Wilkinson (O21) made it 14 wins from 15 for leaders Donington.
Their lead at the top is now 11 points after second-placed Bourne SC A slipped up 4-2 at third-placed Holbeach A in the big game of the night.
Breaks of 66 and 42 from star man Mark Gray (O105) couldn’t steer the Bourne boys to glory as frame wins from Mick Pearl (O14), Jem Merrison (O35) and, crucially, Mark Hubbard (O14) saw Holbeach home.
Bourne, who are only a point ahead of Holbeach, have played a game more than their two chief rivals.
Tulips A were the big winners at this level. They dispatched Donington C 6-0 to cement fourth position, with talisman Bren Bowman (O56) making a 32 break.
Basement boys Consti B also enjoyed their best night of the season so far as they whitewashed club rivals Consti F 6-0.
A 22 clearance from John Christian (scr) and Mick Johnson’s (O35) 30 break were the highlights.
Elsewhere, Consti C were 4-2 winners over Whittlesey C to leapfrog them into fourth place in Division Three. In a tight game, Chris English’s (R14) final frame win was key for the Spalding side.
There were also narrow wins for two sides struggling at the other end of the table.
Whittlesey B bagged only their fourth victory of the campaign by seeing off Consti E 4-2, thanks largely to Kerry Skutela’s (R28) final frame success.
Pyramid E also claimed their fourth success of the season. They were 4-2 victors at Gosberton C, with Neil McLean’s (R7) win at the death proving the difference.
Results: D1: Tulips A 6 Donington C 0; Services E 4 Boundary B 2; Holbeach A 4 Bourne SC A 2; Consti B 6 Consti F 0; Boundary A 2 Services A 4; Sutton A 4 Whittlesey A 2; Donington A 4 Tulips B 2.
D2: Holbeach B 1 Pyramid B 5; Gosberton D 2 Boundary C 4; Pyramid C 4 Services D 2; Crowland B 2 Gosberton B 4; Consti I 4 Crowland C 2; Services C 4 Pyramid D 2.
D3: Consti C 4 Whittlesey C 2; Whittlesey B 4 Consti E 2; Gosberton C 2 Pyramid E 4.