A topsy-turvy final week of the Spalding & District League saw top teams in all three divisions crash to heavy defeats.
While it was perhaps not a huge shock in Divisions One and Two, where the titles had already been decided and the pressure was off, it was a major surprise in Division Three.
Going into the last games of the season, Pyramid B led Whittlesey A by just two points, however, they crashed 5-1 at second-bottom Whittlesey B, as the hosts did their clubmates a huge favour. Unfortunately the A team were unable to cash in, slumping to a 5-1 defeat of their own at lowly Gosberton B, leaving Pyramid still two points ahead.
The Skutela family enjoyed a fine night for Whittlesey B with wins from Andy (r14), Pawel (r7), Kerry (r28) and Michael (o14), with Richard Clark (o7) the only winner for Pyramid, beating Kay Skutela (r28) in a black-ball game.
That left the door wide open for Whittlesey A but they too allowed last-night nerves to get to them with Andy Blythe (o7) their only winner at Gosberton. Nigel Goodwin (r21), Mark Howlett (scr), Merv Pattinson (r14) and Warren Driver (r21) were the party poopers.
Meanwhile, in Division One, Consti E had been crowned champions a week earlier and sat a point clear of second-placed Services C, who had already finished their programme. Hopes of completing their season in style were dashed though as they fell 5-1 at home to club colleagues Consti H.
Sean Jeynes (o14) got the champs off to a winning start but it was all downhill from then on as Doug Garfoot (o28), Olly Turner (o7), Jon Houldershaw (r14) and Adam Mayman (o28) chalked up wins for their opponents.
In Division Two, champions Boundary A were safe, having already completed their season so it was runners-up Gosberton A who proved to be the fall guys, going down 5-1 at Holbeach F. Ben Harding (o42) opened with a win for the home side but Adam Twigg (o7) hit back for Gosberton.
That was as good as it got though, with James Quinton (o7), Dan Mayfield (o28) and Alex Bourne (o21) all victorious for Holbeach.
Donington A shot up the final standings with two wins from the two games played. Nigel Brasier (o28) had a 27 clearance to win the deciding frame in a 4-2 success against Holbeach E and then put his team 3-0 up at Whittlesey C with a 22 clearance on the way to a 5-1 win. Glenn Ryan (o21) also had a break of 23.
Holbeach A players spent plenty of time at the table but it was not enough to avoid a 4-2 defeat at Whittlesey C. Wayne Dent (o56) had breaks of 24 and 21 in his re-spotted black defeat to John Willis (r7), while Matthew Smith (o28) potted a 31 and a 24 but his fifth-frame win was too late to change the course of the game. Paul Cook (o21) had a break of 21 in his win, with Simon Parker (o7) also tasting glory for the hosts. Steve Dent (scr) was Holbeach’s other winner.
The other three Division Two matches also finished with 4-2 home wins – for Consti F against Consti B, Pyramid E versus Services D and Services B, who saw off Consti I.
Division One’s other matches were also tight encounters, with four of the five going to fifth-frame deciders. The odd one out was at Holbeach B, where Vince Fitter (o42), Martin Spencer (o28) and Chris Dunmore (o42) put Services A 3-0 up before a home comeback through Ady Liquorish (r7) and Pete Mullane (o28).
The highlight of the evening came from Services’ Martin Spencer, who hit a personal best league break of 50.
Last-frame match winners in the other games were Peter Sharpe-Grose (r14) for Pyramid D at Consti G, Oliver Player (o28) for Bourne SC A at Donington C, Pyramid A’s John Twell (o7) at home to Holbeach C, and Holbeach D’s Don Monk (o21) at Pyramid C.
Mark Gray (o98) had breaks of 38 and 31 for Bourne, while Spencer Dawkins (o56) hit a 36 for Pyramid C and Paul Daw (o28) 32 for Holbeach D.
By contrast, all but one of Division Three’s other games ended with a 5-1 scoreline in favour of the home side.
The odd one out was at Consti C, where the ‘hosts’ emerged 4-2 victors against clubmates Consti J, who did manage to hang on to win two of the three black-ball games. John Walker (r28), Dave Banister (o7) and Kevin Sweeney (r7) secured the points for the C team, before Nev Vickers (r7) and Stew Davies (o14) hit back.
Paul Spittlehouse (o56) secured a 53 break in Boundary B’s win against Consti D, with Mick Walker (o28) hitting a 35 clearance. Rich Wilson (o7) and Dougy Lythgoe (o14) were the other winners before Geoff Ellingworth (r14) prevented a clean sweep with a win in the last frame, the fourth black-ball game of the night.
Stuart Ruskin (r7) won the opening black-ball frame for Gosberton C at Consti A but it was home winners all the way after that, with Nigel Steadman (scr), Wayne Wilding (o7), Bill Prosser (o7) and Martyn Johnson (r21) all victorious.
Pat Taylor (r21) won on a re-spotted black for Donington D at Gosberton D but that was the only away win of the night and came with the hosts 3-0 to the good. Victory was completed by Daniel Hanger (scr), Neil Simmons (o14), Keith Lungley (o28) and James Parrott (r7).
Results: Division One – Consti E 1 Consti H 5, Consti G 2 Pyramid D 4, Donington C 2 Bourne SC A 4, Holbeach B 2 Services A 4, Pyramid A 4 Holbeach C 2, Pyramid C 2 Holbeach D 4, Services C – bye.
Division Two – Boundary A – bye, Consti F 4 Consti B 2, Donington A 4 Holbeach E 2, Holbeach F 5 Gosberton A 1, Pyramid E 4 Services D 2, Services B 4 Consti I 2, Whittlesey C 4 Holbeach A 2, Whittlesey C 1 Donington A 5.
Division Three – Boundary B 5 Consti D 1, Consti A 5 Gosberton C 1, Consti C 4 Consti J 2, Donington B – bye, Gosberton B 5 Whittlesey A 1, Gosberton D 5 Donington D 1, Whittlesey B 5 Pyramid B 1.
