The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A super 71 break from Tulips A’s Bren Bowman is the new best in Division One of the Spalding and District Snooker League so far this season – but it couldn’t help his side win last week.
With the exploits of former snooker professional Mark Gray not eligible for the league’s best break prize, Bowman’s 71 for Tulips A against Boundary A surpasses Sean Swinburn’s 65 for Long
Sutton in the top tier – and also Jason Green’s (Pyramid B) overall best of 68.
Sadly for Tulips talisman Bowman, his charges were defeated 4-2 on their own baize, as Andy Mowforth (O7), Jim McGhee (scr) and Stewart Lilley (O7) all won frames for the Deepings side.
At the top of the table it’s as you were, with top trio Donington A, Holbeach A and Bourne SC A all 4-2 winners.
Table-topping Donington remain 13 points clear after they saw off Long Sutton B, thanks to victories from Nigel Brasier (O7), Tony Scully (O21) and Pat Taylor (R21).
Holbeach A stay second after a hard-fought success over Whittlesey A.
Jem Merrison (O42) made a 23 break for them, but it was wins from Mick Ayres (O7), Mick Pearl (O14) and Bobby White (O21) that got the job done.
That keeps Holbeach four points ahead of Bourne in third after they edged out Tulips B. Breaks of 38, 31 and 25 (clearance) from star man Gray (O98) set-up the victory, although Darren Woodberry (O35) did hit back with a 22 clearance for Tulips.
At the other end of the table, Consti B stormed to a 6-0 victory over Services A to boost their survival hopes.
Elsewhere, a 30 break from Matt Turner (scr) steered Donington C to a 4-2 victory over Long Sutton A.
In Division Two, there was something of a shock as leaders Pyramid B were beaten 4-2 at Gosberton D.
It went down to the wire, but Nigel Goodwin’s (R14) 65-54 success over David Taylor-Martin (R14) in the final frame got the hosts over the line.
That allowed Consti I to cut their lead by three points with a 5-1 home victory over Pyramid C.
Pete Stokes (R14), John Bellerby (R7), David Twelves (R7) and Stewart Wells (R21) all won frames for them, although the latter two did prevail on the final black.
Down the table, there was a much-needed victory for Crowland B, who handed hosts Pyramid D a 4-2 reverse.
That one went to the wire, but Russell Morse (O14) settled it with a 51-42 triumph over Lee Davies (O14).
Consti H also grabbed an important 4-2 home success against Services D in a game that saw Nigel Cherry (O21) and Mark German (O21) sink fine breaks of 27 and 21 respectively.
In Division Three, leaders Services F marched on with a 5-1 home victory over nearest rivals Gosberton A.
Jack Chilvers (O14) got them off to the best possible start with a 25 clearance in the opening frame, with Tom Turner (R7), Ben Lewis (scr) and Lee Hudson (R14) finishing the job.
Carl Wand (O7) was Gosberton’s only winner – and they are now nine points behind the leaders.
Third-placed Long Sutton C also slipped up as they were defeated 4-2 by rock-bottom Donington D.
Alan Stanley’s (R14) win in the penultimate frame settled that one and gave Donington only their sixth win of the season.
There was some good news for one of the promotion hopefuls, as Whittlesey C beat Gosberton A 4-2 in a rearranged match.
Incredibly tight all the way through, Malc Broomfield (R14) settled the clash in the final frame with a black-ball success over Geoff Wand (R14).
Also tight was the all-Consti clash between the D and C sides.
Martin Perkins (O28) got Consti D off to a great start with a 22 clearance in a black-ball win over Pat Bowman (R14), but it was the C team who prevailed with Chris English (R14) taking the vital final frame.
Equally close was Services B’s 4-2 victory at Gosberton C, with two early black-ball frame wins proving key.
They came from Kev Fitter (O14) and Paul Doades (R14), setting the stage for Jeff Collins (R21) to wrap-up the triumph.
RESULTS
Division One: Tulips A 2 Boundary A 4; Consti B 6 Services A 0; Services E 2 Consti F 4; Pyramid A 2 Holbeach D 4; Holbeach A 4 Whittlesey A 2; Sutton A 2 Donington C 4; Donington A 4 Sutton B 2; Bourne SC A 4 Tulips B 2.
Division Two: Boundary C 4 Consti G 2; Pyramid D 2 Crowland B 4; Consti H 4 Services D 2; Gosberton D 4 Pyramid B 2; Consti I 5 Pyramid C 1.
Division Three: Pyramid E 1 Consti J 5; Services F 5 Gosberton A 1; Whittlesey B 5 Consti A 1; Consti D 2 Consti C 4; Gosberton C 2 Services B 4; Sutton C 2 Donington D 4; Whittlesey C 4 Gosberton A 2.
