The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A trademark 87 break from Mark Gray helped Bourne SC A move to within two points of the top of the Spalding and District Snooker League Division One table on Thursday night.
Gray, who is now playing off an O105 handicap, made his latest big break in a opening frame success over Ady Sibley (O21) in a 5-1 team triumph against Tulips B.
Team-mate Ian Clare (O21) also made a 25 clearance for the Bourne boys, while Mark Woodberry (O56) hit back with a 24 break for the beaten Spalding hosts.
They managed to edge closer to seemingly unbeatable leaders Pyramid B, who made it ten wins from as many matches by seeing off hosts Services F 4-2.
This one went down to the wire, with a win and 42 break from Alfonso Palumbo (O49) getting the table-toppers over the line in the final frame.
Both of those sides leapfrogged Holbeach A, who were handed a 5-1 home reverse by Services E – who are now fourth.
At the other end of the table, basement side Consti F racked up a timely 5-1 victory over Long Sutton A.
A pair of wins from Robert Adams (O14) in the last two frames, which included a 24 break, got the Spalding side over the line.
Fellow strugglers Tulips A also secured a victory as they pipped Tulips A 4-2, with Steve Smith (O7) starring with a 27 clearance.
In Division Two, Boundary A now have a share of the lead with Consti G after romping to a 6-0 success at Holbeach B.
Black-ball wins from Barry Malthouse (R14) and Jim McGhee (R7) proved key for the Deepings side.
Elsewhere, high-flying Pyramid C suffered a 4-2 home reverse at the hands of Crowland A.
This one was decided in the penultimate frame, with Paul Cook (O7) seeing off Jeremy Radford (scr).
Long Sutton B defeated Boundary C by the same score to stay in the top five, with Carl Parnell (O28) knocking in a cool 22 break.
Meanwhile, Long Sutton C moved to within two points of the Division Three summit after picking up a 4-2 victory at Gosberton C.
Alex Bourne (scr) was their match-winner in the penultimate frame.
The big winners in the basement tier were Consti J, who romped to a 6-0 success over Services D.
Their frame wins came from Trevor Braybrook (R7), Nick Keeble (O35), Les Andrews (O7), Nev Vickers (R14) and Stew Davies (O14).
Also winning handsomely were Holbeach E, who defeated Pyramid E 5-1.
A 20 break from Tom Digby (scr) couldn’t stop Gosberton B going down 4-2 at Gosberton B, while Whittlesey A were 4-2 winners over struggling Consti C.
