The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
The top two in Spalding and District Snooker League Division One continue to go great guns after both recorded their ninth win of the season on Thursday.
Table-toppers Bourne SC A picked up a 5-1 victory at Boundary B to extend their lead at the summit to five points.
Mark Gray (O105) led the way with breaks of 32 and 30 in a fine black-ball win over Dougy Lythgoe (O14), while team-mate Oliver Player (O21) bagged a cool 30 break of his own despite losing his frame.
Second-placed Holbeach A edged out Boundary A 4-2 in a tight tussle that went to the death, with Mick Pearl (O14) pipping Stewart Lilley (O7) 4-2 in the final frame.
They are six points clear of third-placed Pyramid A, who defeated hosts Holbeach D 4-2 after frame wins from Vic Rose (R7), Matt Chapman (R7) and Mick Twell (R14).
Fourth-placed Services E also picked up a 4-2 win as they dispatched vistitors Holbeach C 4-2.
Phil Spencer’s (O7) black-ball win over Lee Pickett (O28) sealed that one in the penultimate frame.
Meanwhile, struggling Tulips A grabbed a morale-boosting 4-2 derby victory over Tulips B to climb out of the bottom two.
Bren Bowman’s (O49) 38 break was the highlight for the A team, who won for only the seocnd time this season.
In Division Two, leaders Services C are now six points ahead of the rest after a big 5-1 victory at Long Sutton C.
Breaks of 28 and 27 (clearance) from Nigel Cherry (O14) and Kev Fitter (O14) helped see Services home, but the game was tighter than the scoreline suggests.
Behind them, Services F missed the chance to go second after going down 4-2 at home to Services A.
In an incredibly close contest, Jon Bettinson’s (scr) black-ball victory over Oliver Turner (O14) got the job done for the A team at the death.
Donington A could also have gone second, but they went down 4-2 at home to lowly Holbeach B despite a 25 clearance from Nigel Brasier (scr). Neil Harvey (O7) beat Tony Scully (O28) on the final black of the match to hand Holbeach the lion’s share of the points.
Elsewhere, Seb Grimston (O21) made a brilliant 42 break as Consti H roared to a 5-1 victory at Donington B.
Steve Godfrey (O35) also notched a 35 break as Long Sutton B prevailed 5-1 at Whittlesey C, while Phil Goodman (O35) added a 32 clearance and 25 break.
Also 5-1 victors were Gosberton A over Pyramid D, as Adam Twigg (O14) sank a cool 29 break in the opening frame.
Down in Division Three, Consti I missed the chance to put pressure on unbeaten leaders Crowland C as they went down 4-2 against friendly foes Consti C.
John Bellerby’s (O21) 20 break in the opening frame was in vain for the high-fliers.
The best break in the basement division was a fine 37 from Pyramid E’s Neil McLean (O7), but his side went down 4-2 at Consti D.
Mark Lynch (O14) also managed a fine 22 clearance for Bourne SC B as they knocked off Consti A 4-2, while there were three black-ball games in Consti E’s 5-1 triumph at Consti J.
Spalding and District Billiards League
Results: Holbeach C 7 Gosberton A 0 (600-511) (Colin Dodd 27); Gosberton B 5 Crowland 2 (598-580) (Shane White 31 break, Marcus Pell 30 break); Consti B 7 Donington 0 (600-432) (John Keeton 37 break, Mick Johnson 36, 35, 33 and 30 breaks, plus a 36 break unfinished); Crowland B 7 Pyramid B 0 (600-505) (Rob Childs 75, 56, 55, 53 and 40 breaks).
