Dominant Sledgehammers extend lead to 21 points
THE Sledgehammers completed the first half of the T & C Roofing Premier Division dominant in both their match and the league table.
A 10-2 win against North Legionnaires, in which they took the first eight frames, has stretched their advantage to 21 points, as La Villette Hotel Gremlins laboured to their own victory.
On this form, it is hard to see the Sledgehammers being caught, although there is little doubt that a full day of Masters action two days earlier provided the perfect preparation against a Legionnaires side who welcomed back Rick De Garis.
It was a fruitless return in the end, though, as John Skillett put breaks of 47 and 55 on the board, but he did get close in the second frame, losing out 51-50 on the black.
Alongside them, new Masters champion Adam Shorto compiled breaks of 52, 40 and 46 to beat Shaun Mahy, and the lead became 8-0 when Glenn Le Prevost knocked in efforts of 67 and 58.
The aggregate leader would add a third with another 70-plus points frame, but the Legionnaires did pull two frames back through their best player, Miles Plumley.
La Villette started well enough with Martyn Desperques keeping the aggregate pressure on Le Prevost by beating Ross De Carteret 3-0, helped by breaks of 62 and 50.
Adrian Holley’s 48 provided a fourth for La Villette, but Roscoe Cloarec returned to winning ways by scoring 61 points in the frames either side of Holley’s break.
That two-frame lead soon became a 7-3 advantage as Seb Priaulx beat Gary Le Noury 2-1, while Darren Hughes took his opening frame.
La Villette would not be able to add to their tally, though, as Paul Le Sauvage won the remaining two frames for his sixth win in the last seven matches.
Imperium Strokers climbed off the foot of the table at the expense of opponents Ex-Service Hot Butts with a 7-5 victory that also took them above the Legionnaires.
It was a real ding-dong battle throughout as the two teams traded blows, which started with Jamie Le Cheminant and Kelvin Du Feu securing back to back 3-0 wins for their respective teams.
The second half saw both sides continue to strive for the upper hand with the Hot Butts fifth frame coming from Scott Bradford’s 51 break, while Dave Gilmour took his second by just nine points against Graham Peel.
Gilmour duly completed his 3-0 win, but Bradford was denied the same as Mark Gauvain won their last 71-63.
