CHAMPIONS Malton ‘A’ became only the second side to topple leaders Acomb ‘A’ as they ran out 5-2 winners in the York Conservative Clubs’ Carlsberg UK Snooker League.

Malton went into the fixture a player short, but Simon Weatherill and Dominic Spiteri gave them a start before Richard Lillie clawed one back with a black ball win.

Andrew Sherry, Lee Taylor (54 break) and Phil Hart completed the win before Paul Holmes had a walkover win.

Heworth ‘B’ held on to second place despite losing 4-3 to their ‘A’ team.

Kevin Gall (48 break), Adam Scaife and Jason Milner (25 break) opened for the ‘A’ team, only for Brian Birch and Roland Cox to reduce the arrears.

James Kilmartin secured the match for the ‘A’ team, but Chris Thompson earned a valuable point in a last frame defeat of Clive Whyte.

Heworth ‘A’ are now only four points behind the leaders with a game in hand.

Fulford ‘A’ pushed Bootham ‘B’ into second from bottom spot with a 4-3 victory, also helped by a walkover.

Sam Wass won the first frame but Adam Scorfield and Ian Robinson, who denied Tim Lister (44 break), moved Bootham ahead.

Glen Mountain (23 break), Simon England and Alan Reed, with a walkover, secured the win but Lionel Barnes won the closing frame for Bootham.

Bootham ‘A’s match against visitors Acomb ‘B’ was as good as over when it came to light that three home players were not qualified to play.

However, a respotted black ball victory by Tim Fillingham, a black ball success for Stuart Martel, who came from behind, and a comfortable win by Colin Robinson gave Bootham a chance of an unlikely win.

Barry Rankin (29 break) had a chance to make it happen, but missed on the pink and Andy Stone eventually potted the frame and match winning black.

The win moved Stone into the lead in the Worthington Player of the Year competition with ten wins from 12 games, but Fulford’s Bob Smith has nine wins from ten games and two possible games in hand.

Malton’s Weatherill continues to lead in the Pasema Paving Highest Break contest with his 98 break.