The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
It’s looking increasingly like just two teams can win Spalding and District Snooker League’s Division One title as the league enters its final five weeks.
That’s after table-topping Donington A dispatched third-placed Services E 4-2 last week.
Early wins from Peter Keal (R7), Nigel Brasier (O7) and Jim Thompson (O7) got the job done for the leaders, despite a 25 break from Vince Fitter (O28).
That result moves Donington 17 points clear of Services, with Bourne SC A now looking like their only realistic rivals.
The second-placed side remain five points off the summit after a 4-2 win of their own against Consti B.
Star man Mark Gray (O98) made a 52 break and 48 clearance in the opening frame, while Michael Byrne (R14) rounded off the win in the penultimate frame.
Behind them, Tulips A are now level with Services E in third spot after dispatching champions Tulips B 4-2 in a cracker.
Clearances of 34 and 31 from Nick Savic (O42) and Bren Bowman (O56) respectively inspired the A side, before Martin Anderson (scr) beat Mark Wilkinson (O14) in the final frame to clinch the points.
At the foot, Long Sutton A are four points adrift – despite a 4-2 win at Holbeach A. Mat Smith’s (O42) 34 break helped him take the match-winning frame.
Boundary A also boosted their survival bid with a 4-2 victory at relegation rivals Whittlesey A to leapfrog them in the table. Breaks of 26 and 21 from Terry Everitt (O7) weren’t enough for the hosts.
In Division Two, leaders Pyramid B were handed a 4-2 reverse by friendly foes Pyramid C to keep the title race interesting. A 35 break in a frame win from Spencer Dawkins wasn’t enough for the leaders, who did at least extend their lead at the top to eight points by beating basement boys Crowland C 4-2 in a rearranged clash.
Jason Green (O63) and Alfonso Palumbo (O49) bagged breaks of 48 and 29 respectively in that one.
Second-placed Services C do have a game in hand on the Bourne boys – and they kept the pressure on with a 5-1 win over Crowland A. They were boosted by a 22 break from Geoff Hemsil (R21).
Elsewhere in the second tier, a 32 break from Mark Gregory (O14) steered Holbeach C to a 4-2 win over Services D, while Russell Morse (O14) pocketed a 27 break in Crowland C’s 4-2 triumph against Crowland B.
Down in Division Three, Consti E handed Services F only their fourth league loss of the season in a 4-2 scoreline. Their wins came from Kevin Sweeney (R14), Stuart Gravil (O14) and Pete Tingle (R7).
Services are now 18 points ahead of Gosberton A in second after they edged out Consti A 4-2. Geoff Wand (R14) made a 24 break in that one.
With third-placed Whittlesey C not in action, Sutton C missed the chance to close the gap on them after losing 5-1 at Gosberton C.
RESULTS:
Division One: Boundary B 5 Pyramid A 1; Tulips B 2 Tulips A 4; Bourne SC A 4 Consti B 2; Consti F 4 Holbeach D 2; Services E 2 Donington A 4; Whittlesey A 2 Boundary B 4; Sutton B 2 Services A 4; Holbeach A 2 Sutton A 4.
Division Two: Services C 5 Crowland A 1; Crowland C 2 Pyramid B 4; Pyramid B 2 Pyramid C 4; Gosberton D 4 Holbeach B 2; Crowland C 4 Crowland B 2; Holbeach C 4 Services D 2.
Division Three: Consti E 4 Services F 2; Services B 5 Consti C 1; Consti A 2 Gosberton A 4; Consti J 2 Consti D 4; Whittlesey B 1 Donington B 5; Donington D 2 Bourne SC B 4; Gosberton C 5 Sutton C 1.
