The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Services E held their nerve to win the Spalding and District Snooker League’s Division One title on Thursday night’s final round of fixtures.
Wins from Martin Spencer (O21), Vince Fitter (O14), Chris Dunmore (O7) and Phil Spencer (O14) ensured that the Spalding side won 5-1 at Donington C, rendering Jason Rose’s (O21) loss to Mat Turner (O21) irrelevant.
Breaks of 22 and 21 from Fitter were the highlight for Services, who did what they needed to do and overhauled title rivals Bourne SC A to finish four points clear.
Their haul of 19 wins from 28 games was enough for a total of 104 points, making it a remarkable season.
With Bourne, on 100 points, out of action on the final night, Holbeach A missed the chance to overhaul them and challenge Services after going down 4-2 at Long Sutton A.
They were undone, in part, by the brilliance of Sutton’s Sean Swinburn (O42). He made a sensational 65 break and an equally awesome 61 clearance in the opening frame to set the tone for his team-mates.
Colin Dodds (O7) and Mick Ayres (O7) did win frames three and four to set up a final frame decider, but Stuart Atkin (O42) sank a 28 break to beat Neal Jackson (O21) on the final black.
That left Pyramid A in fourth after they edged out hosts Tulips A 4-2. John Twell (O14) settled that one in the final frame.
At the other end of the table, Boundary A (66 points), Consti B (71) and Pyramid B (76) finish as the bottom three.
Pyramid picked up a fine 4-2 win over Tulips B on the final night, with stars Spencer Dawkins (O49) and Jason Green (O70) making breaks of 32 and 36 respectively.
Down in Division Three, the title race was even closer.
Crowland C held the advantage going into the final night – and they cashed that in by beating hosts Consti E to take the championship.
It went to the final frame, but Paul Spicer’s (scr) 49-45 success over Bob Adams (scr) proved to be the key as they edged to top spot by a solitary point.
Jeff Roberts (R14) and Jim Howe (O42) were the other winners on a memorable night for Crowland C.
Finishing second are Consti I, who went down 4-2 at team-mates Consti J.
Finishing two points further back are Services B, who won 4-2 over Services D.
Tim Nash (O35) made two breaks of 20 for them as they clinched third place.
Other highlights in the basement tier saw Michael Foster (O14) make a 22 clearance in Whittlesey B’s 4-2 loss to Gosberton C and a 22 break from John Clapton (R7) in Pyramid E’s 4-2 defeat at Gosberton B.
The title was already decided in Division Two, but the battle for second place was closer than ever.
With Donington A further cementing top spot with a 4-2 win at promotion hopefuls Boundary C, three other sides were battling for the runners-up berth.
In the end, it was Services F who limped to second after going down 4-2 at Pyramid C, despitea 24 break from Pete Holland.
Team-mates Services C came home third after also losing 4-2 at home to already-relegated basement side Donington B, for whom Pete Burrell (scr) sank a 24 break.
That left Gosberton A having to settle for fourth.
Atlso, the bottom, Long Sutton C finished second-from-bottom despite a 4-2 home triumph over Consti G. Keith Wells (O35) sank a 23 break in that one.
Whittlesey C complete the bottom three.
Elswehere, James Sharpe (O35) made a superb 51 break for Pyramid D. But the Bourne side lost 4-2 at Services A.
