The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
The leaders of all three divisions of the Spalding and District Snooker League lost in a dramatic opening to 2019.
Division One leaders Pyramid B had raced into a 2-0 lead against Donington A with frame wins for Tony Curry (O21) and Richard Skellett (014) enjoying breaks of 22 and 32 respectively.
Nigel Brasier (O14) then turned the game beating Spencer Dawkins (O56) 85-54 before John George (R7) beat Jason Green (063) 109-64 to set up a decider, despite Green’s break of 20.
The final frame went down to the black but it was Tony Scully (O35) who held his nerve to beat Alfonso Palumbo (O49) 57-50 and win the game for Donington.
Services E closed the gap with a 4-2 win over Sutton A who won the first three frames thanks to Vince Fitter (O28), Martin Spencer (O21) and Chris Dunmore (O14).
Sean Swinburn earned a consolation point with a break of 31 helping him win a black ball game for Sutton.
Third placed Bourne A lost 4-2 to Holbeach C. Mark Gray (O105) put together a 63 break for Bourne but he lost the opening frame 124-83 to Dan Ashton (O7).
Damo Lewis (R7) won the second frame for Holbeach on the black before Carl Gibson (O21), (also on the black) and Michael Byrne (R7) levelled matters.
Paul Ashton (R14) then won the final frame (68-57) against Ian Clare (O21).
Mark Woodberry had breaks of 32 and 31 to win a black ball game in Tulips B’s 4-2 win over Holbeach D.
Nigel Cherry (O21) enjoyed breaks of 27 and 21 but Services C lost 4-2 to Boundary B while Tulips A won 4-2 at Services F with Bren Bowman (O56) on form scoring breaks of 28 and 22.
There was a shock in Division Two as leaders Boundary A were thrashed 5-1 by Consti H.
Seb Grimston (O21), John Houldershaw (R7), Jason Houghton (Scr) and Mark German (O14), with a closing break of 22, all provided frame wins.
The leaders’ only joy came from winning Barry Malthouse (R14) winning on the black against Doug Garfoot (O21).
Second placed Consti G moved within four points with a 4-2 win over Sutton B, John Barnes (O14) winning the deciding frame despite a break of 20 from opponent Phil Goodman (O42).
Crowland A beat Services B 5-1, the game turning with Kevin Robbs (R4) and Ian Smith (O7) winning black ball games after Paul Doades (R7) had won the opener for Services.
Boundary C, meanwhile, won 4-2 at Gosberton A.
Long Sutton C have pulled level on points with Division Three leaders Donington B.
Sutton beat Consti C 5-1 while Donington B lost 4-2 to Pyramid E. Richard Tibbert (R28) beat Phil Burrell (Scr) 62-36 in the opener before Steve (R7) and Adrian Sharpe (O7) won games on the black.
Holbeach E strengthened third place with a 5-1 win over Consti D, breaks of 22 and 23 from Lee Pickett and Colin Dodd setting them on their way.
Donington D and Gosberton B are two of three sides on 50 points after Donington won the game between them 4-2.
Geoff Harris (R21) and Jay Kyle (Scr) won blackball games for Donington in the first two frames to set them on their way.
Gosberton C beat Whittlesey A 4-2 with the highlights being Kieran Richards-Witham winning a re-spotted black for Gosberton and a break of 31 for Whittlesey’s Andy Blythe.
Elsewhere, Consti A were convincing 5-1 winners over Whittlesey B.
Bottom of the table Services D picked up an impressive 5-1 win against Consti E. Tanya Peel (Scr) had a 25 close to win one frame while there were also wins for Mike Small (R7), Mark Howlett (O7) and Karen Howlett (R21).
