The Pirates forced their way back into the top three with a 5-0 trouncing of lowly Henries A. Tim Pearce, Jason Toms, Bert Stephens, Dave Elliott and Colin Penhaligan were the executioners. Only Dale Bussell managed a single frame to avoid the ignominy of a whitewash.

Second placed Marquee C also won well, 4-1 against Legion A with Kieron Gregson, Richard Jenkins, Gerald Stevens and Mark Nicholas on song. Kevin Hinton took the last against Mark Stevens for a consolation point.

The Marquee failed to make up any ground on leaders Ship Inn Dales, however, as Jason Bond, Marcus Le Page, Martyn Holtam and Peter Ivey combined for a 4-1 win at the Russell.

Roy Saxby put Marquee B ahead early on at the Boscarn, but then the Duloe side failed to register another frame as the Drifters recaptured their early season form with Dave Merrifield, Vince Beall, Barry Pearn and Dave Marks delivering the goods.

The remaining two matches were both close affairs, with Marquee A edging out Pelynt B 3-2 thanks to Steven Ryan, Chris Hill and Steven Lewis; and with the Wreckers visiting Henries D and beating the hosts 3-2, courtesy of Tiddler, Jon Hoskin and Darrell Hidson.

Results (16/1/2000) - Drifters 4-1 Marquee B (8-2); Henries D 2-3 Wreckers (6-7); Legion A (1-4 Marquee C ((4-9), Marquee A 3-2 Pelynt B (6-5); Russell 1-4 Ship Inn Dales (3-8); Pirates 5-0 Henries A (10-1).

Jolly humbled

The form book went out of the window as top met bottom at the Jolly and the basement Bullers gave the Jolly A a lesson they wonít forget in a hurry.

The 'most wins' leaderboard was turned into the obituary column as Murray Collings, Darren Griffiths and James Griffiths all bit the dust in swift succession, at the hands of Cris Woods, Adam Shaw and B Stuckey respectively. With Rob Dewe also on target in the last game against Whippet Williams the result was a resounding 4-1 to Bullers. Only Andy Higman managed a point for the table-toppers as they saw their lead cut to three points by Boscarn B, who took full advantage of the slip-up with a 5-0 pasting of the Globe Trotters via Carl Cook, Richard Kitt, Brian and Anne Bowdler and, finally, Billy Roberts.

The top three are beginning to build up a useful cushion, but the rest are so tightly grouped that Ship Polperro B moved from relegation strugglers to promotion hopefuls in one fell swoop as they crushed the Lugger 5-0. Alan Brown, Rob Byrne, Mark Clark, Joe Kidger and Alan Winterson were the successful quintet.

Results: Globe Trotters 0-5 Boscarn B (3-10); Jolly A 1-4 Bullers (4-9); Ship Polperro B 5-0 Lugger (10-3).

Strugglers Slip Up

Leaders Strugglers B slipped to only their second defeat of the season against Bar 1 B, for whom Richard Coombes, Andy Giles and Darren Reynolds were the victors.

At the opposite end of the table, the Rowett B chalked up only their second win as Jon Puckey, Simon Manley and Matthew Winterson struck against Henries C.

Overall, there was little change in the table as every match in the division finished 3-2, remarkably all to the away teams.

Second placed Boscarn C maintained their challenge with a hard fought win at the Social A, but they had to recover from a 2-0 deficit after Paul Goldthorpe and Chris Powell had given Social the ideal start. Piran Clements, Grant Gough and Chris Gowing turned the tide.

The Jolly B are also in contention after winning 3-2 at Pelynt A, via Paul Jowitt, Derek Uren and Steve Pote, and could draw level with the leaders if they make the most of their game in hand.

The remaining match saw the Marquee D visit the Boscarn E and come away with the spoils, thanks to Lee Putt, Neil Hilton and Kevin Small.

Results: Boscarn E 2-3 Marquee D (5-6); Henries C 2-3 Rowett B (6-6); Pelynt A 2-3 Jolly B (5-7); Social A 2-3 Boscarn C (6-7); Strugglers B 2-3 Bar 1 B (5-8).

Foreigners march on

The Legion Foreigners raced into a 3-0 lead against Crumplehorn through Tony Modesto, Marcus Hicks and Matthew Brett before Phil Richardson and Martin Jordan stopped the rot, making the final score a more respectable 3-2.

Second and third met at the Noughts where Strugglers A snatched victory from the Noughts B in the final frame of the final game. Ian and Ben Jones and Phil Clark did the damage for Strugglers and Andy Bryant and Toby Leslie replied.

The Copley improved their position with a good win against the Gamblers - Dave Spencer, Guy Berncastle, Sara Brenton and Geoff Rogers all striking form in their 4-1 win.

Results: Copley 4-1 Gamblers (8-5); Foreigners 3-2 Crumplehorn (8-6); Noughts B 2-3 Strugglers A (6-6).

First Round - 30 January

British Legion: Noughts A to call roll, Singles - Noughts A v Henries E, Rowett v Crumplehorn; Doubles - Social A v Ship Polperro B; Trebles ñ Crumplehorn v Henries C, Henries E v Marquee C, Boscarn E v Pelynt B, Marquee D v Boscarn B, Ship Polperro B v Henries A (Boscarn B to tally results and return to Ship, Looe).

Crumplehorn: Marquee C to call roll, Singles - Henries C v Marquee C, Bar 1 B v Russell, Bar 1 A v Strugglers B; Doubles - Globe Trotters v Gamblers, Wreckers v Strugglers B; Trebles - Legion A v Lugger (Wreckers to tally results and return to Ship, Looe).

Rowett: Jolly A to call roll, Singles - Gamblers v Jolly B, Bombarders v Destroyers;

Doubles - Bar 1 A v Jolly B, Bar 1 B v Jolly A, Destroyers v Pelynt B; Trebles - Marquee B v Destroyers (Marquee B to tally results and return to Gerald Stevens).

Ship Polperro: Pirates to call roll, Singles - Bullers v Drifters, Copley v Pirates; Doubles - Millendreath v Drifters, Bombarders v Marquee C, Marquee A v Henries D; Trebles - Jolly A v Noughts A, Jolly B v Wreckers (Wreckers to tally results and return to Ship, Looe).

IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND ON THE NIGHT, PLEASE CONTACT JOHN STORER ON 262093 AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.