Title race hots up as leading pair falter

Six teams are still in with a shout of lifting the Spalding and District Snooker League Division One title after the top two slipped up.

Leaders Pyramid B are still firm favourites to take the league’s top trophy back to Bourne, but they were handed a 5-1 home reverse by Services A.

Paul Quincey (scr), Charlie Mullane (R21), John McDowell (O7) and Pete Mullane (O21) all registered wins from the Spalding side.

That rendered Spencer Dawkins’ (O49) 25 break mere consolation for the leaders, who are five points clear with two to play.

Second-placed Holbeach A missed the chance to cash in on Pyramid’s loss, as they went down 4-2 at Crowland C. Mitch Capes (R7) and Jamie Beeken (O7) won the final two frames to give the hosts a narrow victory in their penultimate game of the campaign.

Donington A are a further three points back after their 4-2 triumph at Holbeach C. Sam Major (O14) sealed the lion’s share of the points for them in the third frame.

Tulips B, who have a game in hand on the rest, are well placed to battle for the title despite a 4-2 reverse at Long Sutton A. They are ten points off the pace.
Best break in the top flight last week came from Sutton A’s Stuart Atkin (O42) in a re-arranged game with Services A. He sunk a 38 to steer his side to a 4-2 win.

In Division Two, Consti F edged four points clear of Bourne SC A after a 4-2 win at Services C. Five more points from their final two games will see them crowned champions.

Whittlesey A’s promotion bid is in their own hands after they won 4-2 at Pyramid C. Gary Thewliss (scr) clinched that victory in the penultimate frame.

Pyramid D were the big winners in the second tier. They thrashed hosts Boundary A 6-0, despite a 20 break from Jim McGhee (scr).

Elsewhere, the top Division Three have both secured promotion – leaving Holbeach B and Gosberton A to battle it out for the title.

Leaders Holbeach B actually went down 4-2 at Gosberton D, with a classy 25 clearance from Simon Slinger (R7) sealing the win.

That allowed Gosberton to take full advantage with a maximum 6-0 success at Donington B. Lee Watson (O7), Geoff Wand (R21), Peter Waterfall (R14), Andy Ward (R14) and Carl Wand (R7) all delivered the goods to close the gap to seven points with two matches to play.

Consti J lead the race for third after beating Gosberton C 5-1 in a game that saw Marcus Pell (O21) and Stuart Davies (O21) both trouser cool 21 breaks.

Sutton C are hot on their heels after dispatching Consti D 5-1, with Susan Lefley (R14) on winning form again.

Results: Division One: Sutton A 4 Tulips B 2; Sutton A 4 Services A 2; Services E 2 Pyramid A 4; Holbeach D 4 Sutton D 2; Tulips A 6 Sutton B 0; Consti B 2 Boundary B 4; Holbeach C 2 Donington A 4; Crowland C 4 Holbeach A 2.

Division Two: Pyramid C 2 Whittlesey A 4; Pyramid B 1 Services C 5; Gosberton B 4 Crowland A 2; Consti G 4 Consti H 2; Consti I 2 Whittlesey B 4; Boundary A 0 Pyramid D 6; Services C 2 Consti F 4; Crowland B 2 Bourne SC A 4.

Division Three: Sutton C 5 Consti D 1; Services D 4 Boundary C 2; Donington B 0 Gosberton A 6; Bourne SC B 5 Consti C 1; Gosberton D 4 Holbeach B 2; Consti J 5 Gosberton C 1.