The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Mid-table Tulips A produced their performance of the Spalding and District Snooker League season so far to hammer Division One table-toppers Donington C 6-0 – and blow the title race wide open.
Just seven points now spans the leading four in the top tier, with Donington’s lead now just a solitary point after the whitewashing.
As ever, Tulips talisman Bren Bowman (O56) led the way for his side with breaks of 24 and 22, while Simon Law (scr) added a 20.
Steve Smith (O14), Martin Anderson (O7) and Matt Maddison (scr) also won their frames on a memorable night for the Spalding side.
That result gave club-mates Tulips B a huge boost, as the second placed side picked up a 4-2 success at Boundary B to crank the heat up on the leaders.
Ady Sibley (O7) won the crucial last frame on the final black for the title hopefuls, while Mark Woodberry (O49) impressed with a 22 clearance.
Tulips B have a game in hand on Donington C, so are sitting very pretty in second.
Behind them, Holbeach A moved to within four points of the summit by winning 5-1 at Consti F.
Jem Merrison’s (O35) 25 clearance and a 24 break from Ben Harding (O7) were their highlights.
Completing the top four are Pyramid B, who earned a 4-2 home triumph over Gosberton B to keep their title hopes alive.
It proved to be a tight tussle, but Alfonso Palumbo (O49) beat Chris Mumby (R14) on a re-spotted black in the final frame to give the Bourne boys the win.
Elsewhere in the top tier, Craig Fitter (O56) made a super 37 break and 22 clearance as Services E beat stable mates Services A 6-0.
Paul Daw (O7) was also on-song with breaks of 27 and 21 as Holbeach D beat basement boys Services C 4-2, while Carl Gibson (O21) made a 25 break in Bourne SC A’s 4-2 home reverse against rivals Boundary A.
In Division Two, Long Sutton A moved ten points clear with a 6-0 success over Consti A, with second-placed Long Sutton B only able to beat Services F 4-2.
Third-placed Consti G lost ground on the top two after slipping up 4-2 at rock-bottom Gosberton D.
Joe Lewsey (R21), Nigel Goodwin (R21) and Stuart Ruskin (R14) won the first three frames for the basement boys to clinch what is only their fifth league win of the campaign.
Meanwhile, Josh Agger (scr) was on-song as Boundary C defeated Holbeach C 4-2. He made a 20 break and a 27 clearance for the Deepings side, while Damian Lewis (scr) sank a 22 break for beaten Holbeach.
David Walker (O14) was another player on-song, but his 25 break coudn’t stop Pyramid C going down 4-2 at home to Gosberton A in a game that saw four of the five frames go to the final black.
There was something of a points swing at the top of Division Three.
Leaders Crowland A were handed a 5-1 reverse by Whittlesey B, allowing second-placed Long Sutton C – who have two games in hand – to move within seven points of them with a 4-2 triumph over Consti C.
Third-placed Services B lost a little ground in the race for the crown as they slipped up 4-2 at home to Consti D.
A 29 break from Tim Nash (O35) was in vain for Services, with John Cooper (R21) beating Jeff Collins (R7) 55-53 in the final frame to clinch it for Consti.
Mark Howlett (O7) also reeled off a 22 break to steer Services D to a 4-2 success against Gosberton C, while there were wins by the same scoreline for struggling duo Donington D (over Consti A) and Bourne SC B (against Consti E).
