HOPES of Heworth retaining the championship of the York Conservative Clubs’ Faber Shield Billiards League for the seventh time suffered a blow as they went down 5-1 to current leaders Acomb.

Ken Bowser (22bk) defeated Gary Rogers (41, 36, 36 bks) in the first game only for Keith Watkinson (21 bk) to level for Heworth.

John Ashwell (22 bk), Paul Holmes and Adrian Barraclough (22 bk) won the last three games and Acomb easily gained the aggregate for a 5-1 success which moved them five points clear of second-placed Bootham ‘B’.

Heworth are a further three points adrift in third spot.

Fulford looked to be on the way to only their second victory as they went 2-0 up against Bootham ‘A’ with wins by Wayne Puleston, who held off Ken Taylor (31 bk) and Colin Neal.

Bootham levelled through Jeff Brown (25 bk) and Stuart Martel, who denied Terry Ward (37, 41 and 43 bks).

Tim Lister (20, 21, 22 bks) came from 80 behind to defeat Colin Robinson by three points but Bootham took the aggregate for a 3-3 draw.


Solid Holmes

Paul Holmes continued his unbeaten run and heads the list with eight wins in the Cameo Engraving player of the rear ratings. Heworth’s Keith Watkinson, with seven wins in eight games, is second.

Gary Rogers, meanwhile, leads in the Cameo Engraving highest break contest with 85.