Holbeach A passed a real test of their title credentials in Spalding and District Snooker League Division On last week as they swept aside a talented Long Sutton A side 6-0 on Thursday night.
Impressive frame wins from Mick Pearl (O14), Jem Merrison (O35), Mick Ayres Jnr (R14), Bobby White (O14) and Mark Hubbard (O14) helped send Holbeach two points clear in the top tier title race.
Merrison and Pearl also pocketed fine breaks, making 39 and 33 respectively. There was also a cool 33 break from Sutton’s Stuart Atkin (O42), but he was seen off by Hubbard 69-50.
Bourne SC A remain their nearest challengers after a 5-1 success at Consti A.
The in-form Carl Gibson (O14) led from the front with a 28 break in a black-ball win in the opener. However, a typical 65 break and 27 clearance couldn’t help Mark Gray (O105), the league’s most heavily-handicapped player, complete a whitewash for the Bourne boys as he lost the final frame 111-107 to Martin Fear (O14).
Third-placed Donington A are just four points off the pace after they smashed Services E 6-0.
Nigel Brasier (scr) starred for Donington with a 22 break – a feat matched by Services’ Vince Fitter (O21).
Donington do have two games in hand on both sides above them, so are sitting very pretty at present.
Pyramid A are now fourth after their 5-1 home success over Boundary B. A 33 break from Richard Wilson (O7) wasn’t enough for the Deepings side, who are leapfrogged by their conquerors.
Elsewhere, the all-Tulips derby was won by the A team as they saw off the B boys.
A 26 break from Bren Bowman (O56) was the highlight of the match as the defending champions were defeated again.
Consti I are the new pace-setters in Division Two after they beat friendly foes Consti G last week.
Stewart Wells (R21), Pete Stokes (R21) and John Bellerby (scr) got the job done in the first three frames, with Richard Geddes (R14) adding the finishing touches.
Crowland C slip to second – one point off the pace – after they were seen off 4-2 by club mates Crowland B.
Richard Neal (R21) settled the derby in the final frame.
A further point back in third are Pyramid B, after they edged out Pyramid C in another all-club affair.
Keith Duly’s (O7) 34 break in a frame win sparked a comeback from the B side, who had trailed 2-0. Jason Green (O56) settled the contest at the death.
Holbeach C also remain very much in the title picture after a 5-1 win at Services D.
Down in Division Three, Services F remain four points clear following their 5-1 home win over Consti C. Pete Holland (O21) made a 21 break for the table-toppers.
Rivals Gosberton A were also 5-1 winners, with fellow high-fliers Consti A their victims.
Meanwhile, a 20 break from Dan Mayfield (O21) steered Long Sutton C into the top six as they saw off Gosberton C 4-2.
Mark Dennis (R7) beat dad Malc Dennis (R14) in the final frame to clinch the win.
The best break in the basement division was a 31 from Nev Vickers (R7) in Consti J’s 4-2 loss to Consti C.
There was also a 25 clearance from Pawel Skutela (R7) in Whittlesey C’s 4-2 defeat at Donington B.
RESULTS
Division One: Tulips A 4 Tulips B 2; Services A 4 Sutton B 2; Holbeach D 2 Consti F 4; Consti B 1 Bourne SC A 5; Boundary A 4 Whittlesey A 2; Pyramid A 5 Boundary B 1; Donington A 6 Services E 0; Sutton A 0 Holbeach A 6.
Division Two: Holbeach B 4 Gosberton D 2; Crowland B 4 Crowland C 2; Services D 1 Holbeach C 5; Pyramid C 2 Pyramid B 4; Consti I 5 Consti G 1; Consti H 5 Boundary C 1.
Division Three: Services F 5 Consti E 1; Gosberton A 5; Consti D 4 Consti J 2; Bourne SC B 5 Donington D 1; Donington B 4 Whittlesey B 2; Sutton C 4 Gosberton C 2.
KO Cup: Consti B 2 Bourne SC B 3; Services E 2 Consti E 3; Gosberton A 4 Pyramid A 1; Boundary A 0 Consti G 5; Gosberton B 3 Services F 2 ; Whittlesey A 3 Pyramid B 2; Whittlesey C 5 Bourne SC A 0; Consti I 3 Services B 2; Donington B 2 Consti H 3; Donington C 5 Consti C 0; Holbeach A 1 Pyramid C 4.
