The league fixtures were the focus of attention in the ninth week of the Derwent Valley Asbestos Removals & Demolition Services summer league.
Defending champion Kevin Basnett had a break from proceedings this week allowing front runner Peter O’Hagan to extend his lead with a valuable 5-0 whitewash of Maryport’s Sal Cakmak.
In a competitive opening two frames Workington’s O’Hagan took a 2-0 lead despite a highest break of the season for Cakmak of 41 in the second. O’Hagan then rattled in breaks of 45, 32 and 37 in the next three frames on his way to extending his league lead to eight points.
Cockermouth’s Andrew Mitchelhill moves up to third from fifth courtesy of his 4-1 victory over Mark Tunstall of Workington.
Mitchelhill earned himself a 2-0 lead comfortably with the help of an opening frame break of 31. Tunstall rallied in the third to close matters to 2-1, but a close fought fourth frame went Mitchelhill’s way before a comfortable final frame, accompanied by a 32 break, earned Mitchelhill the solid win.
Whitehaven’s Andy Moore and Workington’s Darren Lawson were battling it out for the leaders place in DVARD division two.
In a closely-fought contest throughout, and some low scoring frames, Lawson took the early lead only for Moore to respond by taking the next three.
Lawson won the final frame in similar fashion to the opening frame for a respectable 3-2 reversal. The result prevented either player from taking top spot in the end with Moore second, a single point behind the leader Stephen Jackson.
Lawson is a single point further behind in third in a tight top four.
The final tie of the week saw Workington players Dave Chapman and Geoff Smith cross cues.
In some close frames Smith raced to an unbeatable 3-0 lead before Chapman claimed the final two for a more respectable 3-2 reversal.
The recently improved form of Smith sees the Workington Cons player close the gap on the rest of division two and adds to his good run of form in the DVARD qualifying group stages. Chapman remains mid-table.