The top five teams in Division One of Spalding and District Snooker League are now separated by just six points with a month of the season remaining.
Leaders Services E surrendered their advantage after a 5-1 loss at Holbeach C, for whom Mark Gregory (O21) made a superb 38 break.
Services star Jason Rose (O21) did hit back with a 28 break of his own, but the Spalding side are now just one point clear at the top.
That loss has allowed Pyramid A into the title mix after they beat Holbeach D 5-1 on the Bourne baize.
Paul Daw (O21) and John Twell (O14) made breaks of 22 and 21 respectively in that one.
One point further back – with a game in hand – are Holbeach A, who were 5-1 winners at Boundary A, despite a 23 break from Pete King (scr).
Also in the running are fifth-placed Tulips B, but they went down 4-2 against club-mates Tulips A.
Martin Anderson’s (O7) win in the penultimate frame settled that showdown.
Elsewhere in the top tier, a super 33 break from Stuart Atkin (O42) couldn’t stop Long Sutton A going down 5-1 at Donington C.
There was also a big 4-2 win for Pyramid B at Consti B, with Spencer Dawkins (O49) and Alfonso Palumbo (O49) bagging breaks of 29 and 20 respectively.
In Division Two, leaders Donington A are six points clear with a game in hand after their 5-1 success at struggling Holbeach B.
Services C kept the pressure on with a 4-2 victory over Long Sutton C, who remain in the bottom two.
This one went the distance, with Kev Fitter’s (O21) 71-58 success over Keith Wells (O35) in the final frame proving to be key.
Boundary C slipped away from the race for glory, however, after going down 5-1 at home to Pyramid C.
Shaun Kettertingham’s (O21) 26 break was in vain for the Deepings side.
Down in Division Three, long-term leaders Crowland C are now just one point clear after slipping to a 4-2 loss at Gosberton B.
Nigel Goodwin (R21) clinched the contest for his side by defeating Russ Morse (O14) in the final frame.
Third-placed Services B will now feel that they have a chance of lifting the title after they saw off visitors Whittlesey B 4-2.
Jeff Collins’ (R14) final-frame wins wrapped up the points and leaves the Spalding side within striking distance of the two teams above them.
RESULTS
Division One: Boundary A 1 Holbeach A 5; Pyramid A 5 Holbeach D 1; Consti B 2 Pyramid B 4; Tulips A 4 Tulips B 2; Holbeach C 5 Services E 1; Donington C 5 Sutton A 1; Boundary A 2 Pyramid B 4.
Division Two: Holbeach B 1 Donington A 5; Boundary C 5 Pyramid C 1; Sutton B 4 Whittlesey C 2; Pyramid D 4 Gosberton A 2; Boundary C 1 Pyramid C 5; Services C 4 Sutton C 2; Services C 2 Boundary C 4; Consti G 2 Pyramid D 4.
Division Three: Services B 4 Whittlesey B 2; Consti E 4 Consti J 2; Gosberton B 4 Crowland C 2; Consti A 2 Bourne SC B 4; Pyramid E 4 Consti D 2; Donington D 5 Gosberton C 1.
Spalding and District Billiards League
Results: Gosberton A 0 Holbeach C 7 (493-600); Consti C 7 Holbeach B 0 (600-501); Donington 7 Consti B 0 (600-518) (Mick Johnson 100 and 70 breaks, Neil Reynolds 44 break); Pyramid B 5 Crowland B 2 (577-508) (Rob Childs 86 and 55 breaks); Consti A 5 Pyramid A 2 (574-536).
