Donington C remain the team to beat in Spalding and District Snooker League Division One after completing the first half of the season with a win that sees them go into 2017 with a five-point advantage.
The long-term top flight leaders edged out hosts Boundary B 4-2 in their final game of the year to make it 13 wins from 16 games so far.
A 22 break from Chrissy Allwood (scr) helped them on their way in Deeping, with Ben Wrigglesworth (O14) then wrapping up the victory.
Second-placed Pyramid B look like being their chief rivals – and they also closed out the year with a 4-2 success.
That came away at fellow high-fliers Tulips B in a game that saw their star man Jason Green (O63) make a 49 break and 22 clearance.
There’s then another five-point gap back to third-placed Holbeach A, who managed a 4-2 win of their own at Pyramid A.
Jem Merrison (O35) inspired that victory with a 43 break which helped them leapfrog now-fourth Tulips B in the standings.
Elsewhere, Nigel Brasier’s (O7) 23 break helped steer Donington A away from the danger zone as they beat Boundary A 5-1.
In Division Two, third-placed Long Sutton B applied pressure on the two sides above them with a super 6-0 triumph at Whittlesey C.
Glen Ryan (O14), Carl Parnell (O28), Mick Tiller (R7), Steve Godfrey (O35) and Phil Goodman (O28) were all on winning form in that one.
Also 6-0 winners were Consti I, who dispatched Gosberton A to move into the safety of mid-table.
Stable-mates Consti H picked up a win too, although struggling Gosberton D made them work for their 4-2 scoreline.
Jason Houghton (R7) settled that clash by beating Nigel Goodwin (R14) in the penultimate frame.
The score was 4-2 as Pyramid C knocked off Holbeach B, too, with Alan Jackson (O7) seeing off Neil Harvey (O14) at the death to settle a tight tussle.
Down in Division Three, there’s not much between the top four at the mid-way point.
Crowland A lead the way by a point after beating hosts Consti E 4-2 thanks to wins in the first three frames by Neil Burton (O7), Iain Smith (R14) and Paul Cook (R7).
Hot on their heels are Long Sutton C in second. A 30 break and 22 clearance from Dan Mayfield (O21) helped them defeat Donington D.
Also 4-2 winners were third-placed Services B, who are two points further back.
They won at Consti J despite Trev Braybrook’s (scr) 23 break.
Gosberton C are five points off top spot in fifth following their 4-2 home triumph over Consti A, who slip back to sixth as a result.
- Spalding and District League cueman Mick Cooper saw off the Maltings’ John Hayhoe to retain the Norfolk Handicap Billiards Championship.
The 58-year-old held his nerve to lift the coveted crown for the second year in a row at Hayhoe’s home venue in King’s Lynn.
The losing semi-finalists were Ade Elvin and Steve Kirk.
