HEWORTH A' increased their lead in the York Conservative Clubs' Carlsberg UK Snooker League to eight points by thrashing close challengers Fulford A' 6-1 - despite a rare defeat for in-form Kevin Gall.

Their winners were Mark Winskill, Tony Tennyson (28 break), Steve Burdett (35 break), Clive Whyte, Jason Milner (48 break) and Neil Wood, to push Fulford down to fifth.

Richard Stroughair (37 break) gained Fulford's only point by inflicting the first defeat of the season on Gall.

Bootham A' consolidated second place with a 5-2 success against Acomb A', who were two players short. Mark Dar-ley, Nick Parker, Tim Filling-ham (31 break) and walk-overs by Barry Rankin and Brian Coulson gained Bootham's points. Marcus O'Boyle and Keith Myers replied.

Bootham B' moved up to third by pipping Acomb B' 4-3. Ray Stamp, Tony Lambert and George Long traded frames with Jeff Keen, Kevin Ventress and Ken Bowser before Bootham's Chris Daw-son denied Acomb their first win with a black-ball success.

Fulford B' gained their second win of the season coming back from 3-2 down to beat Heworth B' 4-3. Brian Birch (22, 31 breaks), Dave Birch and Darren Colledge won for Heworth, with replies by Bob Smith and John Adcock. Arthur Pegden and Nigel Smith took the last two games to secure Fulford's win.

Gall's first defeat leaves Milner as the sole leader in the Willsden Steel Player of the Year competition. Burdett, Gall, Rankin and Stroughair are all joint-second.

Milner's 48 break moves him into third spot but Whyte remains the clear leader in the North Wolds Printers Highest Break contest with his 91. Burdett is second with 56.

Ken Taylor was in sparkling form for Bootham A' against Bootham B' in the York Conservative Clubs' Faber Shield Billiards match.

Taylor won his game with breaks of 46 and 26 x 2 but it was largely in vain.

Alf Appleby levelled and, although Nick Parker restored the A' team's lead with a 33-point success, Ian Robinson, Tony Lambert and Tim Fillingham secured the match for the B' team, though they were unable to claw back the aggregate.

Bootham B' also looked well placed against leaders Heworth but fell 5-2.

Bootham's Ray Stamp was coasting home but Brian Birch fought back to win by nine points. Ian Robinson was about level with Tony Tennyson, who then made a 33 break to make it 2-0 for Heworth. Dave Birch made it 3-0 and, although Appleby and George Long reduced the deficit, it made little inroads on the aggregate arrears. Heworth captain Keith Watkinson (26 break) sealed the result win with a conclusive victory.

Fulford reduced Heworth's lead to 3 points by thrashing Acomb 6-1.

Wayne Puleston (30 break) won the first game but Acomb's Jeff Keen levelled by defeating Richard Stroughair. Fulford then reeled in the remaining games through Alan Reed, Colin Neal, Bob Plant and Jeff Brown, to also gain the aggregate point.

Despite Taylor's 46 break and Tennyson's 42, Bootham's Colin Robinson continues to lead the Cameo Engraving Highest Break contest with a 55. Heworth's Tennyson, with ten wins in 11 games, head the Cameo Engraving Player of the Year competition, with club colleague Dave Birch second.