Victory keeps Interleague newcomers Looe well-placed in third

ALEX Wibberly led off for the home side and promptly lost to Gerry Markwell who broke and cleared up, writes Roger Stephens.

Chris Boland levelled it for the hosts by beating Darrell Hidson, but the Bees countered with a brace of their own when captain Colin Penhaligan, ably helped by Steve Eastley, took out Dave Toms and Darren O’Shea.

The hosts woke up with a run of their own as Peter French, Nigel Paynter and Paulo Costa proved too good for Sean Caudwell, Jimmy Stephens and Keith Armitage.

At 4-3 the set was in the balance, more so when Jonny Jones evened things up by beating Lucy Harrison, but the hosts nicked the set as Tyler Rowson defeated Roger Stephens.

Wibberly had better luck this time as he beat Eastley, but Markwell, Hidson and Penhaligan reeled off the next three.

French stemmed the tide somewhat by defeating Roger Stephens, but the Looe boys ran out the last four frames of the set via Caudwell, Jimmy Stephens, Armitage and Jones.

The third set proved to be a see-saw affair which the hosts ended up winning 5-4 via successes for Wibberly, Toms, French, Costa and Harrison, although the visitors kept their noses in front due to victories for Eastley, Hidson, Roger Stephens and Armitage.

The visitors soon extended their advantage in the fourth and final set as Hidson, Penhaligan, Eastley and Markwell stepped up to give them the four frames needed.

Bronzed reeled off the last five courtesy of French, Crago, Costa, Harrison and Rowson, but they were still beaten 19-17.

The man-of-the-match award went to veteran Peter French for an unbeaten four, while Looe’s win keeps the Interleague newcomers well-placed in third.