The Derwent Valley Asbestos Removals Division Two title chase is starting to take shape.
Dave Chapman and Stephen Jackson are locked together at the top as they both continue their recent runs of good form.
Chapman delivered a convincing 4-1 victory over Adam Sowden after immediately taking charge and quickly racing into a 2-0 lead with a mixture of solid scoring and safety play.
Sowden started to settle into the match in the third frame where both players traded points so that the scores were even with only the black left on the table.
However, Chapman was unfazed by his opponent’s response and calmly delivered the final blow to take an unassailable 3-0 lead.
The pattern of the fourth frame was similar to the third, and once again concluded in a black ball shoot-out.
However, this time, it was Sowden who was able to grasp the final chance and reduce the arrears to 3-1.
In the final frame, Chapman was in no mood to allow his opponent a mini comeback, and produced his most polished performance of the night to decisively secure the frame and move to the top of the Division Two table.
Stephen Jackson also produced a 4-1 victory over Adam Hodgson after the match started competitively with both players showing signs of good form.
Hodgson took initial charge of the frame with a 39 break, his highest of the campaign to date, before Jackson rallied with a mini clearance to snatch victory on the final black.
As both players strove for an advantage the following two frames were less free flowing from a scoring perspective, but a confident Jackson was able to make the best of the chances to move into a 3-0 lead.
In the fourth, Hodgson displayed his determination and was able to establish a foothold in the match with some solid potting, averting the potential whitewash.
However, Hodgson was unable to carry the momentum into the final frame, as Jackson delivered a commanding performance to close out the match, and move level with Dave Chapman on points.
Chapman leads by virtue of greater match wins.
Stephen Harrison and Jamie Flitton faced off in a bottom of the table clash.
Flitton made the better start, taking the opener in comfortable fashion befpore Harrison responded positively in the second, and soon levelled the match.
Harrison then seized the initiative to establish a 2-1 match lead and move within a single frame of victory.
Flitton demonstrated his fighting qualities in the fourth and held on to take a close frame to force a deciding frame.
With both players eyeing a maiden victory, the final frame was understandably tense. The early part of the frame saw both exchange points, before Harrison was able to seize the momentum and push on to earn a hard-fought 3-2 victory.
