BOOTHAM ‘B’s unbeaten run in the York Conservative Clubs’ Faber Shield Billiards League came to an end when they lost 5-1 to Fulford.

Wayne Puleston (22 break) held off Bootham’s Alf Appleby (27 break), then Terry Ward (23, 29 breaks), Alan Reed and Glen Mountain secured Fulford’s victory, before Tim Fillingham (27 break) came from behind to prevent a whitewash.

Bootham ‘B’ responded to that first defeat by beating their ‘A’ team 4-2, but the result was only decided in the last game.

Ian Robinson (34 break) and Fillingham moved them ahead after Nick Parker had won the first game for the ‘A’ team.

Colin Robinson (22, 23 breaks) levelled, but good running enabled Paul Mahoney to decide the match for Bootham ‘B’, a win which moved them to the top of the league.

Acomb, who have played one more match, moved level on points with the leaders as they drew 3-3 with Fulford despite winning three of the five games.

Acomb’s Mick Borg won the opener, but Ward put on an exhibition as breaks of 23, 60 and 63 helped him defeat Paul Holmes by 122 points, having wiped out a minus-110 handicap.

Richard Lillie put Acomb 2-1 ahead, only for Reed to level. Trevor Ventress then made it 3-2 to Acomb, but Fulford easily earned the aggregate for a 3-3 draw.

Lillie now heads the Cameo Engraving player of the year competition with six wins in seven games, while Bootham’s Fillingham and Matt Smith are joint second with five wins in six games.

Ward has moved into the lead in the Cameo Engraving highest break contest with his 63 break.

Holmes is second with a 40 break.