Reigning champions Ship Inn Dales (last year's Henries B) used their game in hand to good effect as they opened up an eight point gap over their nearest challengers. The Marquee A were the first victims as Jason Bond, Peter Ivey, John Storer and Marcus LePage completed a 4-1 success for the Dales, then a re-arranged fixture at the Legion A yielded another victory - albeit a closely contested 3-2 - for a net haul of seven points for the week. Peter Ivey, Jason Bond and Marcus Le Page were again on the mark and Alan Phillips and Hurricane Hinton replied.

After crushing stablemates Marquee B 5-0 via Mark Stevens, Mark Nicholas, Richard Jenkin, Gerald Stevens and Kieron Gregson, the Marquee C now have a two points lead over third placed Pirates who began the night in fine form, taking the first three without conceding a frame against bedfellows, the Wreckers. Phil Matthews and Tid Hayward hit back to make the final score 3-2 to the Pirates, for whom Colin Penhaligan, Ricky Elliott and Bert Stephens did the business.

Henries A may be haunted by relegation fears, but they took high-flying Pelynt B to the deciding frame before going down 3-2. Dale Bussell and Jason Richardson were their victors but Dave Ede, Glen Northcott and Phil Hearndon did just enough.

The mid-table clash between Henries D and the Drifters also finished 3-2 with Karl Bowden, Stuart Fisher and Paul Adams giving Henries the edge. Dave Marks and Shaun Pengelly replied for Drifters.

Results: Henries D 3-2 Drifters (8-4); Marquee B 0-5 Marquee C (2-10); Pelynt B 3-2 Henries A (6-6); Ship Inn Dales 4-1 Marquee A (8-5); Wreckers 2-3 Pirates (4-8); late result from 28/11 ñ Legion A 2-3 Ship Inn Dales (4-6).

A pair of fours took Noughts A to within two points of the leaders. First they visited Bar 1 and came away with a 4-1 victory through Jon Perry, Ryan Leslie, Gareth Bailey and Mark Lewis, then they took out Henries E by the same scoreline, courtesy of Lee Bryant, Mark Lewis, Gareth Bailey and Ryan Leslie. The latter two both registered 8-ball clearances.

The Jolly A have started to look fallible during the past few weeks and have seen a six point cushion whittled down to just two. Doubts must have been in their minds again on Sunday as lowly Bombarders matched them frame for frame - but Whippet Williams snatched the decider for a 3-2 victory. Murray Collings and Darren Griffiths were their other winners with Matt Edwards and Richard Rix on the mark for the Ship.

The Boscarn B maintained their challenge with a 4-1 victory over Bar 1 A via Billy Roberts, Brian Bowdler, Carl Cook and Richard Kitt. Gary Jasper scored a consolation point for Bar 1.

The Bullers also won 4-1 at home to the Ship, Polperro, and head the chasing pack. However, with an eleven-point gulf separating 3rd and 4th the promotion issue is virtually a foregone conclusion, even at this early stage. Rob Dewe, Dave Pearn, Cris Woods and Bob Stuckey struck for the Bullers with Rob Byrne the only victor for the Ship.

The Lugger's poor recent form continued, as they were beaten 3-2 at home by bottom club Globe Trotters. Ian Liston and Jamie Adams gave the Lugger the lead but wins for Ian Chudleigh, Tom Bee and John Wilson gave the Trotters a welcome lift.

Results: Boscarn B 4-1 Bar 1 A (9-4); Bullers 4-1 Ship Polperro B (8-4); Jolly A 3-2 Bombarders (8-7); Lugger 2-3 Globe Trotters (6-7); Noughts A 4-1 Henries E (9-4); late result from 16/1 ñ Bar 1 A 1-4 Noughts A (3-8).

Eight Ballers - Gareth Bailey (Noughts A) v Jordan Garaghon (Henries E), Ryan Leslie (Noughts A) v Wesley Garaghon (Henries E).

Henries C were the only significant movers in another week when every match finished 3-2. A win over Pelynt A via Dawn Trew, Paula and Martin Hamlet, combined with the same scoreline and the same winners from a 'lost' result from 12/12/99 versus Bar 1 B, gave them a tally of six points and elevated them from a relegation spot to a position of mid-table respectability.

Top dogs Strugglers B visited the Marquee D but it took an 8-ball clearance from hot-shot Doug Jones to clinch the points ñ at the same time taking Doug to the top of the 8-ball leaderboard.

The in-house Derby between the Boscarn C and Boscarn E saw the C team come out on top as Grant Gough, Marcus Wills and Piran Clements answered the questions posed by Simon Barber and David Salter. The most memorable aspect of the clash was the graffiti written on the match card - very artistic!

Third placed Jolly B also won when Derek Uren took the decider at Bar 1 B, to complement the earlier good work of Paul Jowitt and Steve Pote.

Bottom placed Rowett had the rare luxury of a 3-0 lead as Simon Manley, Daniel Stringer and Paul Matthews condemned the Social to a fourth loss in a row. Chris and Mark Powell gave the score a more balanced look as they took the last two without dropping a frame, at the same time creating one of those odd anomalies when the team losing the match wins more frames than the winners.

Results: Bar 1 B 2-3 Jolly B (5-7); Boscarn C 3-2 Boscarn E (7-6); Henries C 3-2 Pelynt A (7-5); Marquee D 2-3 Strugglers B (5-6); Rowett 3-2 Social (6-7); late result from 12/12 as advised by phone by Sue Allman ñ Bar 1 B 2-3 Henries C (5-6).

The Hannafore Point Islanders felt the full force of a rampant Destroyers side as they failed to register a frame against Vern Oxley, Stuart Butler, Steve Jones and Jan & Chris Pannewitz. The Destroyers then followed up with another three point haul against Millendreath through Andy Grant, Chris Pannewitz and Stuart Butler; the 8 point gain for the week leaving them handily placed as promotion contenders.

The Crumplehorn also stay on the fringe of the promotion dogfight after a 4-1 victory over the Islanders, for whom Kevin Wright was the only one on target. Andrew Butters and the Jordan trios (Lynda, Martin and Ray) were the Crumplehorn marksmen.

Second placed Strugglers A lived up to their name against bottom side Gamblers, but Phil Clark, Ben and Ian Jones came good to ensure a 3-2 victory.

The Foreigners bandwagon rolls on though, and it begins to look as if the other teams in the division are playing for the runner-up spot. The Copley became the latest victims as Matthew Brett, Geoff Hicks, Andy Thomson and Marcus Hicks made it eight out of ten. Dave Spencer clawed one back for the Copley, defeating Tony Modesto 2-1. The 4-1 margin puts them nine points clear of the field.

Results: Crumplehorn 4-1 Islanders (4-4); Destroyers 3-2 Millendreath B (8-6); Foreigners 4-1 Copley (9-4); Strugglers A 3-2 Gamblers (7-5); late result from 16/1 - Islanders 0-5 Destroyers (0-10).