Champs Hainton back with a bang

THE new Express Appliances Intermediate Snooker League season got underway – with some teams starting in style.

Champions Hainton faced an early test as they played last year's runners up Ray Edmonds A, and once again it went in Hainton's favour.

However, when Lee Blanchard, Gaz Challis, Jamie Richards (39) and Andy Aisthorpe put the visitors 2-0 up, a home win looked unlikely.

But Butch Reynolds, pictured, Chris Fuller, Neil Russell and Chris Taylor levelled matters and then stalwarts Bob Reeves and Ivan Harvey won their frames for a 4-2 win.

The Gas Man produced the goods as they destroyed West End B with a slam.

Rick Gilliatt, Scott Templeman, Kev North, Scott Long, Ashley Wright and Mark Baldwin left the Westenders wondering where it all went wrong.

In a new Ray Edmonds derby, Locate Supplies entertained Ray Edmonds B.

Mark Graves and Wayne Webber put Locate 2-0 up but Chris Sutton and Nige Otter managed to level matters at 2-2.

Nige Emmerson and Nick Woods then won both theirs to give Locate a 4-2 win.

Newly-promoted Birds Eye travelled to Stamford and, after sharing the first four frames, Mick Boyington and Gary Avison won 2-0 to give Birds Eye the victory.

Carr Lane Social A enjoyed their trip to Clee Cons A and, after sharing the first two frames, Brian Riley, Colin Crosby, Derek Crosby and Joe Goodfellow clinched a great 5-1 result.

It was a better night for Clee Cons C as they won 4-2 at Westlands D, with Lee Pawson, Damon Gresham, Rob Willerton and Chris Farrow put them 4-0 up before Byron Hatfield and John Ford took the last two frames as consolation.

Icing Cabin returned to the top flight with a 5-1 win after a 2-0 from Tony and Steve Aisthorpe was enough against four-man Webbonet.

Westlands Heating got off to a flyer in section B, hitting six 20-plus breaks in the process.

Playing at West End C, Keith and Adam Board converted a 1-1 into a 3-1 lead. Richard and Paul Claridge made it 4-1, but Paul Stiff and Tony Smith pulled one back to limit the Westlands team to a 4-2 win.

On the other table, Barry Jebson, Ian Hunter, Walt Simpson and Dave McMullen won 2-0 as West End D enjoyed a 5-1 win over Westlands C.

The match between Ray Edmonds D and Hainton A was tied at 2-2 before James Wooton and Yan de Gruchy took the final frames giving Hainton a 4-2 win.

Old rivals Carr Lane Social B and Grimsby Police B fought out a close battle which the Police won 4-2 courtesy of Kev Ferguson and Pete Wood. The League wishes retired Carr Lane captain Geoff Fytche a speedy recovery in his battle with illness.

Steve Neul, Tony Eglin, Alan Whalley and Flynn Gillin helped Clee Bowls Juniors to a 3-0 lead over Cambridge Graduates, but then Dave Colley hit the week's highest break, 48, to reduce the arrears.

With a great comeback in sight, Dave Richardson and Geoff Bird responded to this, taking their frames to make it 3-3.

Jim Litchfield's team, No Idea, have been awarded a 6-2 win as Ray Edmonds C could not raise a team.

Results

A League: Locate Supplies 4 Ray Edmonds B 2; Westlands D 2 Clee Cons C 4; The Gas Man 6 West End B 0; Clee Cons A 1 Carr Lane Social A 5; Icing Cabin 5 Webbonet 1; Ray Edmonds S 2 Birds Eye 4; Hainton B 4 Ray Edmonds A 2.

B League: No Idea 6 Ray Edmonds C 0; Carr Lane Social B 2 Grimsby Police B 4; West End D 5 Westlands C 1; West End C 2 Westlands Heating 4; Cambridge Graduates 3 Clee Bowls Juniors 3; Ray Edmonds D 2 Hainton A 4.

Breaks

Dave Colley 48; Jamie Richardson 39; Mark Graves 38, 24; John Leggett 31; Stephen Singleton 25; Adam Board 25; Chris Sutton 24; Keith Board 24; Paul Claridge 24, 22; Gaz Dannatt 22; Steve Neul 22; Chris Yull 22; Richard Claridge 22; Brian Riley 21, 21; Ivan Harvey 20.