LEAGUE leaders Heworth 'A' recorded a 6-1 win over Bootham 'A' their nearest contenders in the York Conservative Clubs' Carlsberg-Tetley snooker league and opened up an 11-point lead.

Heworth's Kevin Gall fought back with a 25 break to level the scores and when John Darley snookered himself after potting the yellow with the frame at his mercy; Gall took his chance and cleared the colours to pink to win.

Neil Wood (54 break) and Steve Burdett made it 3-0 and Clive Whyte added the fourth helped by a 36 break made after laying a snooker.

Colin Robinson salvaged a point for Bootham, also by coming from behind aided by snookers then cleared the last three colours to win by one point.

Dave Taylor struggled in his game but eventually won on the pink and finally Brian Shipley retained his unbeaten record in bizarre fashion.

Bootham's Brian Coulson had effectively won the frame when Shipley potted pink but went in-off. Coulson played a loose shot and Shipley gained the necessary points from a snooker and was left an easy pink and snooker after another Coulson error.

Acomb 'A' moved into second place, level on points with Bootham 'A', but with one more win, by defeating Fulford 'A' 4-3.

Acomb's Trevor Ventress levelled the match after Richard Stroughair (27 break) took the first frame. Brian Bickerstaff and Simon England (33 break) moved Fulford 3-1 ahead only for Peter Lawson, Keith Myers and Gerald Mackenzie to secure Acomb's victory.

Heworth 'B' held on to fourth spot with a 4-3 success against Bootham 'B'. Brian Birch and Mick Frampton put Heworth 2-0 up but Paul Mahoney and Tony Lambert, (who inflicted the first defeat on Chris Thompson, levelled the match.

Huw Faircliffe and Alf Appleby won the match for Heworth, then George Long gained Bootham's third points.

Acomb 'B' remain rooted in bottom place following a 6-1 defeat by Fulford 'B' who moved up to fifth spot level on points with their 'A' team.

Fulford's Gary Bolton, Bob Smith and Ray Thackway won the first three frames before Jeff Keen earned Acomb's sole point. Nigel Smith, George Toone and Arther Pegden completed the rout.

Brian Shipley (Heworth) is now the sole leader in the Willsden Steel Player Of The Year competition with eight wins from eight games. Colin Robinson (B) and Clive Whyte (Heworth) are joint second with eight wins from nine games.

Neil Wood (Heworth) made a 54 break this week and leads the North Wolds Printers Highest Break competition with his 71 break.

Unbeaten league leaders Acomb continued their dominance of the York Conservative Clubs' Slater Cup snooker pairs league with a 5-2 win over Heworth. Acomb responded after Heworth won two of the first three frames with black ball results to take the next three games and comfortably gain the aggregate point.

Bottom-placed Fulford surprised Bootham by winning four of the six games, but only by four, seven, seven and nine points respectively.

Bootham's W Glaister and P Richardson had won the first frame 68-14 and P Fletcher and P Henderson took the last 74-33 to ensure Bootham gained the aggregate point which restricted Fulford to a 4-3 victory. Bootham continue in second spot but are six points adrift.

Fulford responded from losing the first game against Bootham 'B' by winning the next five to record a 6-1 victory in the York Conservative Clubs' Faber Shield Billiards League.

Bootham's Tony Lambert won the opening game. Then successes by John Anderson (who overcame Tim Fillingham, 33 break), Phil Oliver (25 break), Colin Neal, Alan Reed (25 break) and Brian Bickerstaffe ensured they easily earned the aggregate point for a 6-1 victory.

This win moved Fulford four points clear as league leaders and could be decisive as only two more matches are left to play.

Acomb continued in second place after defeating Bootham 'A' 5-2. John Ashwell, Trevor Ventress, Bob Ventress and a walkover by Ian Gillies earned Acomb's points against replies by John Darley (who stole the game from Peter Lawson by one point) and Colin Robinson (28 break).

Despite his defeat this week by Colin Robinson, Keith Myers (Acomb) continues as the leader in the Cameo Engraving Player Of The Year competition, but Trevor Ventress (Acomb) has moved level with him, both with eight wins from ten games.

Ken Taylor (Bootham) continues to lead in the Cameo Engraving Highest Break competition with his 44 break.

Updated: 10:37 Thursday, February 05, 2004