THE Gas Man racked up a victory slam to move top of the Express Appliances Intermediate Snooker League.
With long-time leaders Icing Cabin being held to a draw by in-form Birds Eye, The Gas Man took full advantage as they pummelled Carr Lane Social A and achieved the 6-0 whitewash they needed to climb to the Section A summit.
Scott Templeman and Rick Gilliatt got them off to a perfect start at Carr Lane, before Ashley Wright (pictured below) with a break of 46, and Kev North repeated the trick to make it 4-0.
There was no letting up as Scott Long and Dan Mumby also won 2-0 to secure the slam.
Icing Cabin looked on track at the Cromwell Club when they opened up a 2-0 lead against Birds Eye, through Jamie Barrett and Lewis Singleton on one table, and Tony Aisthorpe and Scott Gibbons on the other.
But Birds Eye drew level with comfortable wins as Gary Avison, Gary Camburn, Chris Madsen and Tony Ward took the honours.
Paul Leggett and Tony Jagger won the next frame to give Birds Eye the lead, but Cabin veteran captain Steve Singleton took the last frame, alongside John Parker, to salvage a draw.
Ray Edmonds B drew level with Hainton B after beating them 4-2 – Alan Edmonds and Tony Miller's 2-0 was the difference between the teams.
Jase Reynolds and Tom Leeley put Clee Cons A 2-0 up at home to Webbonet and, after the next two frames were shared, Dave Webster and Ken Payne bagged a double of their own to make it 3-3.
In the Edmonds derby, it was a bragging time for the A team as they took out the S team, 4-2, courtesy of a 2-0 from Paul Clark and Andy Aisthorpe.
On the next table, Locate Supplies kept their title challenge well and truly alive as they beat Clee Home Guard 5-1. Mark Franks, Wayne Webber, Ian Crosby and Steve Fisher were the 2-0 winners.
West End B enjoyed a rare win as they travelled to Westlands D and triumphed 4-2.
In Section B, Cambridge F continued their relentless march to promotion and they picked up another win at the expense of No Idea.
But they were made to work for the spoils – an opening 2-0 from John and Keith Phillipson proved decisive in a 4-2 win.
Ray Edmonds D jumped to second spot as they hammered Express Appliances 5-1.
Westlands C had a great trip to Carr Lane Social B. After Dave Rudrum and Bill Maudsen shared with Pete McIntyre and Roger Lockwood, it was one-way traffic as Rob Wraith, Googie Withers, Tommy Watson and Pete Wraith went on to complete a 5-1 triumph.
At the Cambridge Club, a 2-0 from Dave Bartlett and Ray Hammond was cancelled out by a 2-0 from the Graduates star pairing of Terry Robinson and Dave Richardson. George Bartlett and Yan de Gruchy then won their frames giving Hainton a 4-2 win.
Terry Anglin and Peter Needham put West End C 2-0 up against Clee Bowls Juniors after an uncharacteristic slip by Steve Neul. Frank Brookes and Bill Smith kept up the momentum as West End went into a 4-0 lead. Lee Neul and Tony Eglin then saved the day for the Juniors as they won 2-0.
It was a frame-all-round as West End D drew with Westlands Heating.
Results
Section A: Locate Supplies 5 Clee Home Guard 1; Hainton B 2 Ray Edmonds B 4; Westlands D 2 West End B 4; The Gas Man 6 Carr Lane Social A 0; Clee Cons A 3 Webbonet 3; Icing Cabin 3 Birds Eye 3; Ray Edmonds S 2 Ray Edmonds A 4.
Section B: No Idea 2 Cambridge F 4; Carr Lane Social B 1 Westlands C 5; West End D 3 Westlands Heating 3; West End C 2 Clee Bowls Juniors 4; Cambridge Graduates 2 Hainton A 4; Ray Edmonds D 5 Express Appliances 1; bye – Grimsby Police B.
BREAKS
Ashley Wright 46 20; Mark Franks 35 23; Rob Baker 30; Paul Clark 29; Lee Blanchard 29 24; Paul Smith 26; Nige Emmerson 24 20; Rick Gilliatt 23; Steve Fisher 22; Phil Marshall 22; Dave Colley 22; Jase Reynolds 22; Ian Crosby 21; Nathan Clook 21; Jamie Richardson 20; Scott Long 20.
