The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Just five points separate the top three teams in Spalding and District League Division Three title race with a month of the season remaining.
Leaders Gosberton D are just a point ahead after winning a thrilling clash with Pyramid E 4-2 last Thursday night.
Simon Slinger’s (R7) 22 clearance in the final frame saw him beat Neil McLean (R7) 67-65 – in what was one of four black-ball games on the night.
Services D are now right behind them after they whitewashed Gosberton C 6-0. A 33 break (19+14) from Tanya Peel (R14) was the highlight for the Spalding side, while Mark Howlett (O7) added a 20 in his frame win.
Also bang in the mix after a maximum win of their own are Deepings side Boundary C.
They breezed past Consti A 6-0 as Josh Aggar (R14) made a 22 clearance, Ash Heywood (R14) pocketed a 22 break and Mick Walker (O21) added a confident 20.
The three sides don’t cross paths in the remaining weeks of the campaign, leaving the title race wide open.
Up in Division One, Donington C saw their title challenge suffer a big blow with a 5-1 defeat at Services E.
A 27 break from Martin Spencer (O14) steered the Spalding to a surprise win.
Third-placed Services A faltered too, as they were handed a potentially fatal 6-0 beaten at Holbeach C.
Mark Gregory (O14) lit up the contest for the hosts with a solid 28 break.
Amazingly, fourth-placed Holbeach D also came a cropper. Tulips A took their scalp 4-2, with Bren Bowman (O63) and Nick Savic (O35) bagging breaks of 32 and 30 respectively. Ashley Bunn (O7) hit back for Holbeach with a 27 clearance to register one of their points.
That was good news for leaders Tulips B, who hold onto a ten-point lead at the summit despite suffering a 4-2 loss against Boundary B.
At the other end of the table, Long Sutton A eased their relegation worries with a 4-2 triumph at Pyramid A.
This one went the distance, with Stuart Atkin (O42) getting Sutton over the line with a final frame triumph.
Meanwhile, the best break in the top tier came from Donington A’s Tony Scully (scr) as his side defeated visitors Whittlesey A 5-1. Scully reeled off a super 57 to light up an impressive team triumph.
In Division Two, leaders Consti B picked up a 5-1 win on their own baize to stay in pole position. Mick Johnson (O35) trousered breaks of 33 and 32 to help put Gosberton B to the sword.
Bourne SC A remain hot on their heels after seeing off Services C by the same score.
Oli Player’s (O35) 31 break and Mark Gray’s (O98) 27 clearance helped keep the Bourne boys five points off the pace – with a game in hand.
Away from the title race, Pyramid D’s Marcus Hamilton (O35) and Gosberton A ace Lee Watson (O14) managed breaks of 38 and 33 respectively as the Bourne side prevailed 4-2.
Results
Division One: Holbeach D 2 Tulips A 4; Crowland C 4 Holbeach A 2; Services E 5 Donington C 1; Pyramid A 2 Sutton A 4; Donington A 5 Whittlesey A 1; Holbeach C 6 Services A 0; Boundary B 4 Tulips B 2.
Division Two: Consti B 5 Gosberton B 1; Bourne SC A 5 Services C 1; Consti I 1 Gosberton A 5; Pyramid D 4 Gosberton A 2.
Division Three: Whittlesey B 5 Bourne SC B 1; Gosberton C 0 Services D 6; Consti D 2 Donington D 4; Boundary C 6 Consti A 0; Donington B 2 Whittlesey C 4; Gosberton D 4 Pyramid E 2.
