The Derwent Valley Asbestos Removal Individual Snooker league saw a return to the league format this week.
The highlight came when Stephen Jackson produced a moment of brilliance against Stephen Harrison after losing a keenly contested opening frame on the final black.
Jackson promptly responded with a 41 break to level the match and the third frame again went to the final black, but this time it was Jackson who was able to deliver the finishing touch to take the match lead.
The fourth started with both players exchanging early opportunities, before Jackson seized control of the match in decisive fashion.
A crisp opening pot was the start of an assured and inspired visit, culminating in a winning clearance of 96 and a personal best break for Jackson in either practice or competition.
An elated Jackson rounded off a dominant performance by taking the final frame for a convincing 4-1 victory, to close the gap on the league leaders.
Adam Hodgson also delivered a convincing 4-1 victory over Jamie Flitton. Hodgson was in charge from the off, comfortably establishing a 3-0 lead.
Flitton was able to halt the momentum taking a close fourth, but Hodgson was unrelenting in the final frame to complete the win, and move up into second place.
Wayne Sinclair had to produce a comeback to edge a close match against Adam Sowden who had made a stunning start by taking the opening two frames against the run of recent form.
Sinclair showed his battling qualities in the third, coming through a close frame to establish himself on the scoresheet.
That was enough to spark a resurgence and Sinclair won a comfortable fourth to level the scoreline. He maintained the momentum throughout the final frame to complete the comeback and emerge a 3-2 victor and retain the top spot in Division Two.
Dave Chapman also completed a narrow victory over in-form table leader Andrew Carter.
Chapman had produced a solid performance to gain a 2-0 advantage before Carter found his form in the third to close the gap,
Chapman then produced a nerveless performance to secure the fourth and ensure victory. Carter responded once again to take the fifth frame as consolation, and limit the losing deficit to a single frame.
Division One saw a top of the table clash with Kevin Basnett facing Peter O’Hagan.
Basnett started quicker and was soon into a 2-0 lead aided by a 30 break in the second. O’Hagan responded superbly, crafting a season’s best break of 53 to capture the third frame and maintained control into the fourth to level the match and force a deciding frame.
As both players fought to establish the advantage, the decider became a scrappier contest. Basnett was able to make the best of the chances to ultimately earn a hard fought 3-2 victory, and maintain his top of table position.
Ryan Ismay continued his recent run of form, delivering a convincing whitewash over Andrew Mitchelhill.
It was an early tale of missed opportunities for Mitchelhill as he spurned chances and allowed Ismay to ease into a two frame lead. From the third onwards, Ismay wrested control of the match in decisive fashion producing breaks of 38, 41, 30, 37 and 38 to close out the match and leapfrog Peter O’Hagan to take second position in the table.
