Adrian Lihou claimed a 3-0 victory over Steve Merrien, including a trebled-in black-ball respot. 0381786)

LA VILLETTE GREMLINS continue to lead the way in the Image Group Premier Division, but a stubborn performance from North Social L-Plates restricted them to an 8-4 victory, which included the end to Martyn Desperques’ 100% league record.

It looked like La Villette were going to romp away with another high-scoring win when Seb

Priaulx and John Skillett took the opening three frames.

But while the latter completed a 3-0 win, Priaulx subsequently lost to Craig De Carteret, who has quietly accumulated an impressive record so far.

It was De Carteret’s fourth win in five matches, which has already seen him overtake the eight frames he won last season, but the talking point of the match was still to come.

After 12 consecutive 3-0 victories stretching back to February, Desperques’ season-long perfect league record finally came to an end when Darren Hughes, the pick of the L-Plates players as they have moved through the divisions, impressively triumphed 78-36 in their first frame.

Desperques was to endure more uncomfortable moments thereafter, but he dug deep to deny Hughes any further success and, with Martin Budge also a 2-1 winner, La Villette ended up with a repeat scoreline of their first meeting with the L-Plates.