The singles knockout group stages were the focus of attention in the eighth week of the Derwent Valley Asbestos Removals & Demolition Services summer league.
Defending champion Kevin Basnett holds a four-point lead in Group A. He defeated his nearest rival Darren Lawson 4-1 to create that lead, compiling breaks of 49, 94 and 55 in frames one, three and four, respectively. Lawson took a consolation final frame of the evening.
In Group B, former county champion Kevin Kirkham holds a six-point lead and the only tie of the group saw Workington’s Clive Lister host Seaton’s Paul Smith. In a keenly contested match, it was Smith who came through 3-2 by taking the deciding frame.
Workington’s Geoff Smith keeps defying the handicap and now holds a huge eight-point lead in Group C.
His latest victory saw him defeat Division Two league leader Stephen Jackson 4-1 to make it three 4-1 group stage wins on the bounce, despite Jackson’s 33 break in the opening frame and early lead. Jackson is second.
In the fourth and final group Peter O’Hagan of Workington edged out Whitehaven’s Richard Kirkham 3-2, assisted by breaks of 40, 34 and 36 in frames two, four and five. O’Hagan leads Group D by a single point from Kirkham.
The final tie of the week saw another tight match with Mark Tunstall getting the better of Whitehaven’s Andy Moore 3-2.
In a competitive affair Tunstall made breaks of 33 and 30 with Moore replying between those breaks with a 40 of his own. Both players have work to do to top the group at the half-way stage.
Next week sees a return to league fixtures.
