THE halfway stage of the Express Appliances Intermediate Snooker League is upon us and Icing Cabin remain the team to beat.
However, it was not to be for Carr Lane Social A as, despite sharing the first two frames, the Cabin chalked up yet another victory.
Lewis Singleton, John Steel, John Parker and Steve Singleton were too hot for their opponents as the Icing Cabin stayed well clear going into the break with a 5-1 win.
It was also a 5-1 win for second-placed Ray Edmonds B who were indebted to Lee Plant – knocking in a lovely 67 – Nige Otter, Alan Edmonds (45) and Tony Miller in a very solid team performance against Peter Hogarth & Sons. Mick Ponsonby also contributed a 40.
Two contenders faced each other when Hainton B travelled to Locate and it was a starring performance from home captain Nige Emmerson – with breaks of 45, 38 and 38 – that was the difference as Locate Supplies won 4-2.
The team of the moment, though, has to be Birds Eye who haven't lost for two months and, after beating Ray Edmonds A this week, find themselves joint third in the table.
Jamie Richardson, pictured, and Daz Potter had opened the scoring for the Edmonds team but then Paul Leggett, Tony Jagger, Chris Madsen, Tony Ward, Gary Avison and Gary Camburn took all the remaining frames as Birds Eye won 5-1.
Gas Man were hoping to pick up the points at Clee Cons C but they had to settle for a draw.
In the first match, a 41 from Ashley Wright was responded to by a 39 from Damon Gresham as they tied their frames. On the other table, Scott Long hit a 49 on the way to a 2-0 win partnered by Dan Mumby. Tony Forster and Simon Burley hit back for Cons as they won 2-0.
Alec Cowie and Byron Hatfield put Westlands D 3-1 up away at fellow strugglers, Clee Home Guard, but they could not clinch a win as Keith Southwell and Fred Parker won 2-0.
Webbonet beat Ray Edmonds S 5-1 with John Parrott, Ken Payne, Dave Webster and Brian Hotson winning 2-0. West End B beat Clee Cons A 5-1.
In section B, leaders Cambridge F bounced back from last week's defeat in style as they easily overcame Carr Lane Social B 5-1.
John Philipson and Nick Mason won 2-0 on one table, while Craig Allerston and Garry White did the same thing on the other to make it 4-0.
Dave Robinson and Danny Barrass made it 5-0 before Ken Ramsden and Paul Kirk took the final frame to avoid the slam.
The only slam of the week came as Westlands Heating hammered Cambridge Graduates.
Chris Yull, Stuart Wilkinson, Keith Board, Robbie Bell, Paul and Richard Claridge won their frames to set them up for a promotion push in the new year.
Phil Marshall, Richard Grant, Keith Fountain and Andy Savage won 2-0 as Ray Edmonds D stayed in the hunt with a 5-1 win over struggling Clee Bowls Juniors.
Grimsby Police B are now unbeaten in eight but they were made to work for it as Dave Page and Ian Hunter put West End D 2-0 up.
Jim Wood and Paul Dixon pulled one back but then Steve Donner and Dave McMullen made it 3-1. Sandy Young and Big George Walters then took the last two frames to rescue a draw.
The final match between Westlands C and West End C also ended up all square.
