This Is Guernsey

THERE is no disgrace in having Gremlin Galacticos as your bogey team, but North Legionnaires rarely get much change out of their more illustrious opponents. The latest match between the two was no different, as the Galacticos stride inexorably towards another Image Group Premier Division title.

Shaun Mahy got the Legionnaires’ sole frame, by which time the Galacticos had already put 10 on the board.

Most were comfortable too, with only Adrian Lihou’s third frame going to the black.

That took Lihou to 27 for the season, the same as Glenn Le Prevost who recorded his ninth straight victory.

Adam Shorto completed the trio of 3-0 wins with breaks of 41 and 40 to lie one frame further back in the aggregates, but four behind leader Martyn Desperques.

La Villette Gremlins have reclaimed second place after winning the last seven frames to beat Ex-Service Reds 9-3.

Brett Galienne’s 2-1 win over Stan Lester and a further frame from Roscoe Cloarec gave the Reds a great start, but the Gremlins’ final pairing of Jez Rowe and Ian Platt were in no mood to give anything away.

As with the Galacticos, they were largely comfortable wins, although Rowe’s last did go to the black.

Platt, meanwhile, has put a sticky period of six frames out of 12 behind him and has dropped just two out of 18 at a time when players start looking towards the aggregates with an inter-insular place in mind.

The Chirpers slipped to third on the back of a hard-fought 8-4 win over Sporting Lions.

The relegation-threatened side held their own until 4-4, largely thanks to Gordon Irish’s third consecutive 2-1 win, this time over John Skillett, who managed a fine 49 break in the frame he won.

A final black once again gave Sammy Ward his opening frame, while James Messenger copied Irish and Ward by taking his opener.

With Adrian Holley and Dave Bullock recovering to post victories, Desperques sealed a 3-0 win over Colin Gilbert on the final black.

Four Skipco First Division matches ended up with two home and two away 5-3 wins.

Ex-Service Hot Butts and North Social L-Plates were responsible for one each of those as they strive for the one promotion place as champions.

Leaders Hot Butts made slightly easier work of their victory by taking a 3-1 lead over North Legion Young Ones, but with Vince Aylward consigning Clint McGrath to a first defeat, it took a final-frame black ball from Russell Wakeford to seal the points.

It was the reverse situation at the Social where the L-Plates were being held 2-2 by Sarnian Numptys, with Craig de Carteret and Sean Simms trading wins.

But Milford de Carteret’s draw and two from Darren Hughes ensured the L-Plates kept their deficit to the Hot Butts to three points.

The Numptys were to suffer a second defeat two days later at the hands of Ex-Service Mavericks. With three players drawing, Paul Sarre’s win over Danny Breton proved the difference.

In Andy Paul and Mark Jeffreys, the Sarnian Sharks have two of the three joint aggregate leaders and it was they who forged a 3-1 lead against Gremlin B.

Pat Le Gallez took his first on the black to start a potential fightback, but a 23 break from Micky Collennette grabbed the win after Dave Watson had taken the first off Andrew Wilkinson.

Ex-Service Eagles kept their unbeaten tag going in the Banks & Flouquet Second Division - but only just.

Despite losing the first two frames, North Social G fought back to take a 4-3 lead, with Lee Roome beating Vic Vedier.

A win looked on the cards for the Social with unbeaten Ricky Dodd playing the final frame, but Marcus Haysom ended his record to seal a draw.

It was contrasting fortunes for the bottom two Gremlin teams.

The Knights significantly improved their predicament with a comprehensive 6-2 win over North Legion Aces. Steve Le Maitre’s first win and two from captain Shane Moon ended the Aces’ fine run of late.

But it was not such good news for the Guzzlers as they crashed 7-1 to North Legion B. Paul Cohu’s team put their recent poor results behind them with Gerry Platt and a first league win for Shaun Crowther building an unassailable lead that was fully capitalised on by the skipper himself.

Sporting Musketeers keep piling on the points in the Mariners’ Inn Third Division.

A 7-1 win over Grannie’s Gremlins saw Andy Radford make a 27 break on the way to a win that takes him above teammate Danny Lynch in the aggregates.

North Social Chalkers’ Steve Moullin is also one behind Radford after losing for the first time.

Steve Le Poidevin’s 22 clearance helped beat him as Giba Two won 6-2. Bill Brend went one ball better with a 25 clearance.

Gremlin’s Mixed Bunch recovered from losing the opening two frames to beat North Legion Rousse Raiders 6-2. Pete Gallienne and John Mills cemented the victory that keeps the Mixed Bunch second.

Giba Dorios just held on for a 5-3 victory over North Legion United. Brian Dorey crucially won his two after Tom Shaw’s fifth win in six matches put the Legion in sight of a draw.

* PETER COLLEY gained a vital win over Barry Pallot in the Billiards Straight League so that the stalwarts both now have two defeats. Pallot still leads by a point, though, after a second match saw him beat Kevin de Carteret. Mike Hall stretched his handicap lead to two points after beating Mark Jeffreys.