Top Trio Open Gap
By Graham Clark

In the latest matches of the Formby & District Snooker League, the top three sides have started to pull away from the rest of the field, opening a gap of some 7 points.

Les Dodd’s B are top after their latest victory, a 5-1 home win over Legion B. Dave Hartley starred for the home side notching up a fine 38 break in his defeat of Gordon Dale. Mark Hopgood and Frank Bradley both kept their impressive unbeaten records intact with comfortable victories over Dave and Gary Rimmer respectively.

Con Club B are a point behind the leaders after their first 6-0 of the season, Our Lady’s B being the team to succumb. The Bellas brother’s Mark and Tony stood out, Mark hit breaks of 20 & 27 while Tony amassed 104 points in his game against John Mooney.

Les Dodd’s C are a further point adrift in third after a 6-0 home win over the Brook Club. Phil Fitzgerald once again shone for Les Sullivan’s side, breaks of 23 & 30 helping him to his tenth win of the campaign from as many starts. The sixth frame was conceded by the Brook who could only field 5 players, a point fine has been raised as per League Rules. The Southport based side have a game in hand on their two fierce rivals, a game scheduled for 21st December away to Legion B.

Our Lady’s A are looking a good bet for retaining the ‘Joe Rigby Memorial Trophy’ after sharing the spoils with Con Club A at the Gild Hall. Gerry Murch won a high scoring affair against Kris Forrester 73-64 while Peter Kershaw won a similar battle with Allan Corlett 65-56. The Gild Hall men were then 3-1 up but Mark Abbott and Dave Roberts secured the Con’s a deserved draw with hard fought victories over Ian Dickinson and Mike McNamara.

Holy Trinity cemented their top half position with a 4-2 away win at Legion C. Steve Power with a 20 break and James Holman both impressed for the visitors while Mike Radcliffe played well for the Legion, securing another notable scalp in Luke Palethorpe by the narrowest of margins 54-53.

The scorecard for the Ince v Legion D match has at the time of going to press not been received for which Ince have been fined 1 point.