This week saw the final round of scheduled matches before the Christmas & New Year break in Division One of the Ormskirk & District Amateur Snooker League. There are still four matches to be played to bring us completely up-to-date and all are aware that these matches need to be played by Friday 21st December. It now sees sole leaders at the top of the league table as Red Lion Social Club A went into battle with Lathom & Burscough RBL and at the end of the evening it saw a superb 6-0 demolition of their opponents by the Maghull-based outfit, arguably their best win of the current campaign so far. This outcome sees them hold a two point advantage over their closest rival. The match also saw Red Lion A's Mark Evans in good nick with a nice break of 36 in his frame success.

Aughton Institute E completed a very solid first-half of the season with their seventh victory so far this term. This particular week they recorded a 4-2 triumph at the expense of club compatriots, Aughton Institute A in the Aughton 'Derby' match. This result sees them drop into second position in the league standings, lying those two points behind the leaders. The match also saw Aughton E's Richie Spring Jnr in terrific form as he produced a marvellous 56 clearance which didn't really look on at the start of the break to made it look even more impressive. Richie was very unlucky not to capture the 'Break of the Week' prize as his contribution fell just one point short of that recognition.

Olympic BC B also engineered their seventh success of the season from their nine matches played to date. This time around their clashed with Rainford X SSC and manufactured an excellent 6-0 demolition. The outcome sees them remaining in third spot in the league table sitting just three points off the pace but with that all-important match in hand over the two
teams above them. They play their mouth-watering encounter with Fleetwood Hesketh SSC in the week or so and a positive result will see them very well placed going into the second half of the campaign.

Fleetwood Hesketh SSC, looking for an unbelievable seventh successive First Division crown, were the fourth side this week cementing their seventh win of the current campaign but from only eight matches played so far. This week they comprehensively beat Scarisbrick NSC 5-1 to remain firmly on course for another league title. The result sees them unchanged in fourth place in the table but do have two matches in hand over the top two teams and a match in hand over the side in third slot. Two positive results from those two matches played over the next ten days will probably see them move to the top of the league proceedings at the half-way point. This match saw Fleetwood's Jon Holmes grab this week's 'Break of the Week' accolade, his second so far this term, with a superb break of 57 in his frame win.

Jon's break began when his opponent presented his with an opportunity and he certainly took full advantage of his chance. Jon opened with a solid red ball pot and followed it by dispatching the pink ball. Jon potted a further two reds, both with high valued colours the second of which was the black ball were he screwed in a cluster of ten reds to disturb them, to quickly reach twenty one. A further three reds and blacks followed in that quick style of his with solid potting and fine positional play. Jon saw a chance to disturb another cluster of reds off his next red ball pot and these split perfectly for him and a very high contribution looked a distinct possibility. The pink ball followed as well as further reds with high valued colours to now reach fifty seven. Jon was now faced with a tricky red to middle but, very unfortunately, he jawed it with all the balls out in the open, to bring an end to a terrific break.

The other match played this particular week saw Upholland Social get back to winning ways at the sixth time of asking although they have had a number of tough encounters over the last few weeks of the campaign. They end their evening's work with a 4-2 away win at the expense of Olympic BC A. This outcome sees them move up into sixth spot in the standings.

Red Lion Social Club B sat out their free week this time around.

Other notable breaks this week were – G Hibbott (Fleetwood Hesketh SSC) 43, A Booth (Fleetwood Hesketh SSC) 42 & M Brown (Fleetwood Hesketh SSC) 39 & 33.

The Division One merit table sees Scarisbrick NSC remain as leaders despite their defeat this week but they have increased their lead for a second week running to nine points, they lie on 89 points. Rainford X SSC continue in second place despite their very heavy reversal this time, they stay on 80 points but do have a match in hand over the pace-setters and both sides clash in the next week in their postponed match from earlier in the campaign. Third place is still held by Red Lion Social Club B despite sitting out their free week this time around, they stay on 79 points.

Division 2

St Cuthberts continue to lead affairs at the summit of the Second Division league table as this particular week they recorded their eighth win of the current campaign. The Halsall based team went into battle with Skelmersdale Wardens C and at the end of the evening sealed a solid 4-2 triumph although their opponents could only manage to field a five man team. This result sees them hold a healthy six point advantage at the top of the league standings with two matches remaining before the break for the Festive period. The match also saw Skelmersdale C's Ray Cody & John Gregson in good touch as both compiled breaks of 20 in their respective frames.

Skelmersdale Wardens A are definitely one of the form teams in the Division as they engineered their third successive win this time around and their fifth in their last six matches. They produced an excellent performance with a 5-1 away triumph at the expense of Farmers Club. This outcome sees them continue in second position in the league standings were they have closed the gap slightly to those six points over the pace-setters, the Farmers Boys stay in fourth spot in the table. The match also saw Skelmersdale Wardens A's Paul Holcroft in decent nick with a break of 21 in his frame win.

Stanley Club B clashed with the Reigning Champions, Aughton Institute D this time and it saw a 3-3 stalemate reached at the end of the match were there was never any more than a frame between the two sides in the whole of the match. This result sees the Burscough lads remain unchanged in third spot in the league proceedings but now find themselves some nine points off the pace after a number of drawn matches in recent weeks, the Aughton Institute D outfit move into fifth place in the table. The match also saw Stanley B's Ian McLeod in good form with a nice break of 23 in his frame victory.

Skelmersdale Wardens B manufactured their fourth win of the current season at the third time of asking after two defeats in their last two matches. This particular week they sealed a 4-2 victory at the expense of Aughton Institute C although they will feel a little disappointment as they held a 4-0 lead earlier in the encounter. This outcome see them continuing in seventh in the table. The match saw Skelmersdale B's Larry Scholes in nice touch with a good break of 23 in his frame win.

The other match played this week saw Aughton Institute B notching up their second successive win and their fifth success of the current campaign with a 4-2 home triumph over Stanley Club C. This result sees them unchanged in league position in eighth but just three points adrift of fourth slot.

Other notable break this week was – S O'Hare (Stanley Club B) 22.