The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
It was a big week for Pyramid A in the race for the Spalding and District League Division One title race as they opened up a handsome lead at the top with just six weeks of the season remaining.
Nine points clear at the start of play, the Bourne side roared to a 6-0 victory over struggling Consti G to extend that advantage to a very healthy 13 points.
Frame successes from Victor Rouse (O7), Michael Twell (R14), Matthew Chapman (scr), Norman Vaughan (O14) and John Twell (O14) gave Pyramid the maximum points available.
Meanwhile, second-placed Holbeach C slipped up 4-2 at home against Donington C.
In a game that saw both Dan Ashton (O7) and Ben Wrigglesworth (O21) make 26 breaks and Neil Reynolds (O49) seal his frame with with a 22 clearance, it was Shaun Pickering (R14) who sealed the win for Donington.
Also losing 4-2 were Services A, who were fourth at the start of play.
Despite a 25 break and 25 clearance from Mike Knight (O21) Martin Anderson’s final frame victory swung the clash Consti’s way.
Elsewhere in the top flight, a 34 break from Spencer Dawkins (O56) couldn’t stop Pyramid C from suffering a 4-2 home reverse against Consti B.
More solid breaks came in the all-Bourne battle between hosts Bourne SC A and Pyramid D, which the hosts won 4-2.
Pete Hodgson-Kerry (O21) and James Sharpe (O49) racked up scores of 29 and 26 respectively in that one.
It was also 4-2 as Sutton Bridge B saw off Services C, with a final victory from Derek Beba (scr) the difference for home side Bridge.
In Division Two, there was a big shock as Sutton Bridge A, leaders before a ball had been potted, were humbled 6-0 at lowly Donington B.
Pete Burrell (scr), Phil Burrell (R7), Dave Bannister (scr), Paul Stewart (R14) and Mick Clark (R7) delivered the goods for Donington and boosted their survival hopes.
However, second-placed Bourne SC C were unable to capitalise on that result as they were on the recieving end of a 4-2 defeat at Services E, for who Russ Morse (scr) took the decisive final frame.
Consti F, who began the day in third, also lost 5-1 at Donington A. Nigel Brasier’s (O21) 25 break en-route to winning frame one gave the hosts an ideal start.
Elsewhere, the biggest break of the week came from Bourne SC B’s Jason Bates (O77) as the maestro made 51 in a 5-1 success over Whittlesey C.
Towards the foot of the table, Holbeach E gained a morale-boosting 6-0 whitewash win over Services B. Ben Harding (O28) led the way in that one with a 29 break in frame three.
Holbeach F, bottom at the start of play, also clinched a much-needed win as they edged out hosts Boundary B 4-2. The game went to the final frame, with Alex Bourne (O14) getting the better of Jim Howe (O49).
It was also 4-2 as Consti H pipped Gosberton A in a mid-table battle, with Doug Garfoot (O28) beating Alan Jackson (O7) 70-69 on the final black of the last frame.
Down in Division Three, Gosberton B jumped up to third with a 5-1 home victory against Whittlesey B.
Their frame wins came from Warren Driver (R21), Simon Slinger (R14), Chris Mumby (R14) and Stuart Ruskin (R7).
Also grabbing a victory was Whittlesey A, who won a close clash with Consti D 4-2. Indeed, Graeme Sawyer (O14) settled the contest by winning the final frame.
Another 4-2 scoreline saw Consti A get the better of visitors Gosberton C, with Chris Hall (R14) getting the all-important match-winning victory in the penultimate frame.
- The Spalding and District Snooker and Billiards League are holding their annual finals weekend at Springfields Events Centre on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The league had to cancel the showpiece event of their season due to COVID-19 last year, but are looking forward to three days of top notch action.
Friday night kicks of the action, with the Billiards Shield final (7pm) between Donington A and Bourne SC (three frames, 200pts up, aggregate scores).
Saturday’s play begins with the Billards Individual Handicap (10.30am) between Kieran Richards-Witham (Consti) and Ian Clare (Bourne SC), before the Snooker Senior Masters finale (noon, best of three frames, 200 points up) that sees Wayne Forbelets (Holbeach) take on Roy Jackson (Pyramid).
It’s then the Snooker Mixed Pairs (two continous frames at 2pm) as Jean Thompson and Nigel Brasier (Donington) play Services duo Courtney Boulding and Jake Haslam, with Bourne SC A versus Consti G in the Snooker KO Cup final (five frames, aggregate scores) to follow at 3.30pm.
Saturday then closes with the Snooker Scratch final (best of seven frames) between Consti duo Nic Savic and Bren Bowman.
Five more finals will be played on Sunday, starting with a heavyweight duel between Mick Cooper (Holbeach) and Mick Johnson (Consti) in the Billiards Scratch (1.30hrs) at 11.15am.
That’s followed by the Snooker Handicap Pairs (two continuous frames) battle between Bourne SC’s Mark Gray and Mike Byrne and Donington duo Ben Wrigglesworh and Kevin Hawes at 1pm.
The Snooker Handicap (best of three frames) is next up at 2.30pm as Chris Dunmore meets Services team-mate Martin Spencer, with the Snooker Pairs Scratch (4.30pm, best of three frames) next as Pyramid’s Spencer Dawkins and Jason Green take on Ben Harding and Stuart Sullivan from Holbeach.
As always, the Norey Cup final (best of seven frames) closes the weekend at 6pm. This year, it’s Consti A v Sutton Bridge B doing battle for the crown.
It’s free for all to attend, and the bar will be open from noon on Saturday and Sunday (closed on Friday).
