SEVERAL close matches were fought out in Bury Open League’s Jim Brooks Pairs. At Salisbury Con, Buchanans B lost the first frame by 53, but good wins by Dan Phelan and Alan Rothwell and Adam Vines and Ged French saw them edge out the hosts 166-165. Radcliffe Central D won on the final black at Stanley Con, Duncan Stone and Warren Davies seeing the snooker club home by 13 points. Elton Lib C got the better of Central C thanks to Anthony Milne and Steve Platt potting the last two balls, this despite the efforts of Alan Wardle’s fine break of 28. Whitefield Snooker A beat Elton Lib D by 13 chalks, Dave Smith and Keith Henderson winning the last frame 81-69.

Steve Murray and Tony Greenhalgh won the final game for Whitefield B 67-51 to progress to round two at the expense of Bury Bridge by 11 points. Tottington A turned in a giant-killing performance against A Section Buchanans A, recording an easy 190-144 victory.

Both Radcliffe Central A and B teams had good victories. The A team was far too strong for C section new boys Walmersley Con. Chris Taylor made breaks of 36 and 24, and Barrie Mason and Paul Gallagher only conceded two points in the second frame. The B team recovered from losing the first frame but ended up with a 35-point winning margin.

Promoted Huntley C won the last two frames against Whitefield BC, winning the match by 36 points. Seedfield Bowling B beat Bury Snooker C mainly due to Bill Mitchell and Steve Chant’s first-frame win 78-58.

Paul Walsh and Frank Mulineux’s final-frame win by 51 was enough to see them gain victory against Huntley A.

Bury Snooker D had an easy win against C Section Radcliffe St Mary’s as Martin Lee and Ged Young scored 104 in the second frame for the winners. Ray Hobden and Gareth Haynes won the third frame 80-16 which was enough to see Bury Snooker B go through into Round Two when they took on Fishpool.

Simon Fitzsimmons had a clearance of 49 in the second frame. Walshaw had an easier win against Huntley B than the score suggests, winning by 12, but the result never looked in doubt after Paul Taylor and Steve Brooks had won the second frame 78-50.

Centuries: Martin Lee/Ged Young Bury Snooker D 104.

Breaks: Simon Fitzsimmons Fishpool 49 unfinished, Chris Taylor Central A 36, Alan Wardle Central C 28.

l For results and league fixtures see Page 63