No Hopers are the leaders of the Wrington Vale Billiards League at the halfway stage of the season.

NO HOPERS top the Wrington Vale Billiards League at the halfway stage of the season after their 3-1 win over Backwell A.

An in-form Martyn Howell took the opening game for Backwell against Graham Burton by 43. Ian Green then hit back for the leaders by winning games against Pete Wood and Martyn by 28 and 39 respectively.

Congresbury’s Reuben Hurse was pitted against Zimmers’ Geoff Passmore in their opening game and both scored consistently. Although not hitting any sizeable breaks, Reuben drew level at the threequarter mark and, as Geoff struggled to wrap the game up, Reuben seized the opportunity to run out winner by 14.

Wayne Ticer hit back for Zimmers against Dave Larner and both players were soon into their stride scoring consistently. Then Wayne scored breaks of 31 and 20 to open up a gap that Dave could not close.

Bruce Bernard played Irving Prowse in the final game and Irving was soon in trouble with Bruce was in excellent form, hitting breaks of 35 and 24 to win convincingly by 57.

Backwell B team-mates Bob Selby and George Rowe played each other in the quarter-final of the handicap competition with George enjoying a 100 point advantage although Bob had cut this in half before George had scored.

After that George played well to match Bob’s scoring and at one time led 234-170. Bob then upped his safety play and as George struggled to score, went in front to win 300-285.

Breaks: B Bernard 35, 24; M Howell 31, 25, 23, 22*; W Ticer 31, 20; M Tozer 24; M White 23; M Northern 22, 20.