The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Donington A clinched the Spalding and District Snooker League Division Two title with a week to spare as they defeated rivals Services C 4-2.
Knowing that a victory would secure them the crown, Kevin Hawes (R7), Nigel Brasier (O7) and Jim Thompson (O7) all recorded frame successes to get the long-term leaders over the finishing line.
They are an unassailable 11 points clear of the rest and have won 20 of their 29 games, meaning they’ll also play in the top flight next year.
The defeat leaves Services C two points behind second-placed Services F, who slipped to a 5-1 loss against rivals Boundary C.
Elsewhere in the second tier, James Sharpe (O35) amassed an amazing 71 break for Pyramid D – but saw his team upset 4-2 at home against Holbeach.
A black-ball win from Neil Harvey (O14) in the final frame settled that one.
At the foot of the table, both Donington B and Long Sutton C will finish in the bottom two after suffering defeats.
A 23 break from Simon Parker (O7) helped Crowland A see off Donington B, who will end up as basement boys, 4-2.
Sutton C lost by the same scoreline at Gosberton A, despite Keith Wells (O35) sinking a cool 42 break.
Up in the top flight, three teams still have a chance to win the title on the final night of action tonight (Thursday).
Services E lead the way by a solitary point after a timely 5-1 victory over rock-bottom Boundary A.
Black-ball wins from Vince Fitter (O14) and Chris Dunmore (O7) proved key for the new table-toppers.
Two title rivals clashed elsewhere as Bourne SC A beat fourth-placed Pyramid A 4-2 to put their rivals out of the race and stay within a point of the summit.
Mark Gray (O105) pocketed breaks of 44 and 24 en-route to victory in the final frame to secure a vital victory for the long-term contenders.
A further point back are Holbeach A, who edged out Pyramid B 4-2 to stay firmly in the running. Jason Green (O70) made a 32 break in defeat for the Bourne side.
Elsewhere, Neil Reynolds (O49) made a 51 break for Donington C – but relegation-threatened Boundary B saw them off 5-1 to keep their survival hopes alive.
Also making a 51 break was Paul Daw (O21), who steered Holbeach D to a 4-2 win over Sutton A. Matt Smith (O35) fired back with a fine 31 break for beaten side.
In Division Three, four sides still have title hopes heading into the final round of action.
Leaders Crowland C failed to put themselves in command as they slipped 4-2 at home to Services B, who are now just three points off the pace in third.
Jason Rose (O21) made a 37 break for the Spalding side, who saw Jeff Collins (R14) clinch the victory in the penultimate frame.
That allowed second-placed Consti I, who beat Consti E 5-1, to move within a point of the leaders.
Services D are the outsiders back in fourth. They beat Donington D 5-1 to go five points off the lead, with Mike Small (R7) and Tanya Peel (scr) both winning tight black-ball matches.
They’ll need results to go their way dramatically if they are to take the title.
