The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
It’s pretty much as you were in the Spalding and District Snooker League Division One title race after the top three teams all suffered defeats on Thursday night.
Leaders Donington C were shocked 5-1 at Holbeach D, but actually extended their lead by a point as second-placed Pyramid B crashed 6-0 at basement boys Bourne SC A.
Both sides got off the hook really, with third-placed Holbeach A also defeated 4-2 at Donington A.
Starting with the table-toppers, a sublime 52 break from Paul Daw (O7) inspired hosts Holbeach, with Denis Hix (R14), Neil Grant (R7) and Ian Woodberry (scr) also on winning form.
Neul Reynolds (O56) did sink a 45 break in vain for Donington, who are now three points clear at the top.
Meanwhile, the all-Bourne derby was a one-sided affair as Pyramid were handed a heavy loss.
Alfonso Palumbo’s (O48) impressive 63 break meant little for the away side, especially as a 22 clearance from Ian Gibson (O7) ensured that he didn’t even win the frame.
Oli Player (O21), Carl Gibson (O21), Michael Byrne (R14) and Max Ayliff (O7) also won their frames to fire them off the bottom.
Holbeach A’s defeat at Donington swung on two frames that went to the final black. Jean Thompson (R28) and Kevin Hawes (R7) won them for Doinington A to complete a clean sweep of losses for the top three.
That allowed Tulips B to enter the title picture, with the fourth-placed outfit seeing off Services C 4-2 in a cracker.
Mark Woodberry (O49) made a 46 break and a 27 clearance for Tulips, while Mark Wilkinson (O28) edged out Nigel Cherry (O14) on the final black of the match to clinch the win.
Away from the title race, Matt Wilson (R14) sank a 24 break as Boundary B beat Services A 5-1, while Vince Fitter (O21) made a 22 break as his Services F side went down 4-2 at home to Boundary A.
In Division Two, leaders Long Sutton A kept themselves on track with a 5-1 victory over Consti B.
They were also boosted by a defeat for title hopefuls Services F, who were handed a 4-2 home reverse by Pyramid C.
Ben Peppercorn (O14) sank a 22 break in vain for the beaten Spalding side.
Elsewhere, James Waterfall (O14) bagged breaks of 21 and 20 as Gosberton A beat Gosberton D 4-2, while Dan Ashton (scr) and Mark Gregory (O14) both notched up breaks of 21 to help Holbeach C win 4-2 at Whittlesey C.
With the top two not in action in Division Three, Services B took the chance to close the gap on them with a 5-1 victory over Consti A.
Alan Hansard (R7) recorded a 35 break for the high-fliers, while Ted Howling (O7) added 24. They are now four points off top spot.
There was a close clash between mid-table Donington B and lowly Consti D, with the former edging to a 4-2 triumph.
Mick Clark (R7) sealed that one by beating Ray Digby (R21) in the final frame.
Basement boys Bourne SC B also picked up a win – their seventh of the season – as they knocked off Consti C.
Duane Atkinson (O14) clinched the win in frame four.
