This Is Guernsey

GREMLIN Galacticos have a successful defence of their Image Group Premier Division title firmly in their sights after a second win over nearest rivals Ex-Service Chirpers increased their lead to 15 points. Dave Bullock gave the Chirpers the lead by taking the first off Adam Shorto and it would have been 2-0 but for Paul Le Sauvage taking the final black against Adrian Holley. But that signalled the start of a five-frame run for the Galacticos, ending only when Holley avenged his first-frame loss in similar fashion.

That provided the spark for the Chirpers to go on a four-frame run of their own, drawing level with the champions when Martyn Desperques profited from yet another black-ball frame.

But the Galacticos were not to be denied and Glenn Le Prevost’s 33 clearance was soon followed by Adrian Lihou taking the last frame for a 7-5 win.

La Villette Gremlins are now level with the Chirpers after overcoming the loss of the opening frame to beat Sporting Lions 9-3.

Sammy Ward gave the Lions the perfect start, but the next seven frames went the Gremlins’ way with Graham Peel completing his fourth 3-0 win of the season.

Ian Platt piled on the misery by matching Peel’s effort, a result that leaves the two joint fourth in the aggregates on 23 frames, but Gordon Irish salvaged some respect for the Lions with a 2-1 win over Jez Rowe that included a break of 30, his best of the season.

Two matches for the Ex-Service Reds saw them lose 7-5 to North Legionnaires, then, more importantly, beat the Lions by the same score.

The Reds will reflect on a missed opportunity for two wins having led 4-0 against the Legionnaires thanks to two frames apiece from Roscoe Cloarec and Andy Travis.

With the sides level after Tom Brock had beaten Brett Gallienne 2-1, Jim Wilson missed a good opportunity for the Reds to retake the lead in the 11th frame, allowing Paul Duncombe to go on to complete his first 3-0 win of the season.

The relegation battle with the Lions saw the Sporting side again take an early lead through Ward, but they were hauled back when Wilson beat Peter Colley on the final black. For the second time in a week, Irish achieved another fine 2-1 win to make it 5-5, with two frames to come from Colin Gilbert and Premier debutant Cloarec.

The former West Legion man held his nerve to take both in style and help the Reds build a six-point buffer over their opponents.

A devastating opening burst from Lee Bullock and the unbeaten Clint McGrath ensured that Ex-Service Hot Butts maintained their three-point lead in the Skipco First Division.

Both won their match, with Bullock making a 32 break to take him to eight games unbeaten. Clayton Le Noury and Scott Bradford both then won their opening frame for the leaders, before Sporting Alliance pulled them back to 6-2.

It was a different story for the chasing North Social L-Plates, although the result turned out the same in their match with Gremlin B. With the score at 2-2, Craig de Carteret ended Andrew Wilkinson’s unbeaten season with some aplomb and Darren Hughes completed a vital win.

Ex-Service Mavericks’ title challenge seems to be over after they were held to a draw.

Simon Marquis built on Mark Jeffreys’ victory to put the Sarnian Sharks 4-1 up, but Ryan Le Page’s black-ball first frame initiated a response that saw the Mavericks take the last three.

At the foot of the table, North Legion Young Ones and Sporting Alliance are becoming increasingly detached.

An earlier meeting between the two saw the Alliance end their run of nine consecutive defeats by snatching a draw through Mark Piper, having squandered a 3-0 lead.

The Young Ones needed a good result against Sarnian Numpty’s and were provided a decent start by Dario Mella’s maiden win.

But Sean Simms took the final frame to seal a 5-3 Numpty’s victory.

The Banks & Flouquet Second Division has a new highest break.

Trailing by 16 points to Peter Le Page at the time, Marcus Haysom cleared up with an excellent 34 to set Ex-Service Eagles on their way to a 6-2 win over Gremlin Knights.

The news got even better for the Eagles with Sarnian Breakers crashing to their first defeat of the season by the same score.

A break of 27 from Ian Eggo in ending Greg Robert’s unbeaten season and a 22 clearance by Andy Majury helped North Legion Aces take the first six frames before being pegged back.

Ricky Dodd tops the aggregates after a seventh consecutive win had helped North Social G earn a draw against Gremlin Guzzlers.

The Social looked set for a win, but for David Bostock’s two frames against Shaun Sylvester.

Sporting Musketeers hold a handsome 11-point lead in the Mariners’ Inn Third Division and their latest match featured a meeting between the joint aggregate leaders.

It looked as though Danny Lynch was about to lose his unbeaten run, but a second-frame respot against North Social Chalkers’ Steve Moullin secured a draw, having needed a snooker to get there.

The Musketeers went on to win

6-2.

Di Davison won four frames in Gremlin’s Mixed Bunch’s two matches against North Legion Utd.

The teams traded 5-3 wins, which keeps the Mixed Bunch second and pushes United up to fourth.

Elsewhere, North Legion Rousse Raiders gained their best result yet in beating Grannie’s Gremlins 7-1, while Giba Two edged Giba Dorios 5-3.

n Kevin de Carteret suffered his second 200-199 defeat in the Billiards Handicap League, with Mike Hall the beneficiary to take a one-point lead in the table.

But it is still one of the closest handicap leagues for many seasons, with just three points covering all six players.

Mark Jeffreys and Milford de Carteret played each other twice, both picking up a win against each other in the handicap and straight leagues.