The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Despite suffering a shock defeat, table-topping Donington C remain on track for honours in Division One of the Spalding and District Snooker League.
The current leaders went down to a surprise 4-2 away loss at struggling Pyramid A, but their closest challengers were unable to make the most of the rare slip.
Stable-mates Donington A did the pacesetters a massive favour by romping to a 5-1 home success over second-placed Pyramid B.
Holbeach A did make a slight in-road into the 10-point deficit they have on Donington C with a 4-2 away win at Services C, but the leaders remain in a strong position.
Neil Reynolds (O49) made a 32 break to bring Donington C level early on after Dean Cole (scr) had won the opening frame for Pyramid A.
Michael Twell (R14) put Pyramid A back in front, but Donington levelled again courtesy of a frame win from Lee Hempsall (scr).
John Twell (O14) then clinched the crucial deciding frame for Pyramid A as he hit a 29 break on his way to victory over Matt Turner (O7).
Pyramid B were unable to make the most of their club-mates’ victory as Donington A produced a powerful performance.
John George (R7), Jean Thompson (R28), Nigel Brasier (O7) and Tony Scully (O21) rattled off four successive frame wins for Donington A.
Alfonso Palumbo won the final frame to prevent the whitewash for Pyramid D who, despite the defeat, saw Spencer Dawkins (O42) and Jason Green (O63) make breaks of 23 and 32 respectively.
Holbeach A leapfrogged Pyramid B into second spot after making a flying start to their clash with Services C, Colin Dodds (O7), Jem Merrison (O35) and Mick Ayres (scr) won the opening three frames for Holbeach A with Mark Spiller (scr) and Jordon Philpott (R21) winning the final two frames for Services C.
Birthday boy Spiller made a 25 clearance to secure his victory over Bobby White (O21).
Tulips B remain in fourth place after a 4-2 home win over Boundary A which saw black ball victories for both Joe Garland (scr) and Darren Woodberry (O42).
Chris Dunmore (O14) hit a 25 break for Services E to help them to a 4-2 away win over Holbeach D.
Tulips A recorded an excellent 5-1 away win at Boundary B thanks to a victory double from Martin Anderson (O7), including one on the black ball, and solitary successes from Brett Maddison (R7) and Mike Sampson (O7).
Services F remain on top of Division Two after a 4-2 away win at Consti B.
Ben Peppercorn (R14), Jason Chilvers (scr) and Adam Braybrook (R7) were their victors with John Keeton (O14) making a 20 break after he had got Consti B off to a winning start.
The bottom three sides in the division – Crowland C, Gosberton D and Pyramid C – all recorded excellent wins.
Russell Morse (O14) hit a 25 break for Crowland C who defeated Holbeach C 4-2 with Jeff Roberts (R14) and Jim Howe (O35) also victorious.
Gosberton D beat Boundary C by the same margin thanks to successes from Joe Lewsey (R14), Stuart Ruskin (R14), Nigel Goodwin (R14) and a black ball win for Jack Craft (R14).
Pyramid C were emphatic 5-1 winners at Whittlesey C courtesy of victories from Tony Strickson (scr), Jeremy Radford (R7), David Walker (O7) and Malcolm Croft (scr).
Long Sutton B remained in touch at the top with a 4-2 away victory in a close contest at Consti I.
Carl Parnell (O28) made a 31 break to get Sutton off to a winning start, but John Bellerby (R7) levelled after winning on a re-spotted black.
Pete Stokes (R7) then won on the black ball for Consti I before Glenn Ryan (O14) did likewise to bring Sutton level again.
Phil Goodman (O28) then won the decisive frame for Sutton B.
Crowland A cranked up the pressure at the top of Division Three after a 5-1 away success at Donington B.
Arthur Coleman (R25), Ian Smith (R14), Neil Burton (O7) and Paul Cook (R7) won the first four frames of the night before Mick Clark (R14) claimed a late consolation for Donington B.
Long Sutton C suffered a 4-2 home defeat against Consti A who had Nick Savic in sensational form.
Savic struck a 31 break and then made a 27 clearance to join fellow victors Rob Savic and Steve Hall.
Consti J won 5-1 against Consti E whose solitary success came from Bob Adams (O7) despite a 22 clearance from Stu Davies.
Nick Keeble (O21), Trev Braybrook (scr) with a 22 break, Nev Vickers (R7) and Les Andrew (O14) were Consti J’s winners.
Whittlesey B recorded a vital victory to move away from the foot of the table after a 4-2 home success over Bourne B in a rearranged game. Oliver Player (O28) made a 20 break in his win for Bourne B.
