LAST season’s York Conservative Clubs Carlsberg UK Snooker League champions Acomb 'A' continue to find the going tougher this term.

The title holders suffered a 5-2 defeat at Bootham, with Rob Barron getting the hosts off to a flier after compiling a 27 break to give him an unassailable 53-10 lead against Jon Milner.

Jeff Brown then beat Richard Lillie on the black to put Bootham 2-0 up, but the next two frames went to Acomb with wins for Dan Potter over Andy Wynn and Keith Thornhill (24 break) against Tim Fillingham.

The last three frames were won by Bootham's Colin Robinson against Nick Marchant, J Sucheki against Phil Carlton and Barry Rankin against Mick Borg.

Malton could only muster six players and lost 5-2 to Heworth 'A' with Kevin Gall and Jordan Worobec taking the opening frames against Alan Sherry and Steve Pawson.

Dan Pawson overcame Mark Winskill and Dominic Spiteri defeated Mark Hodson as Malt hit back, but Heworth's Gary Douglas got the better of Phil Hart and Clive Whyte beat Roger Ward.

The clash of the two Fulford sides proved tight with the 'A' team prevailing 5-2, led by Glen Mountain making a 37 break.

Dan Coggan prevailed over Tom Lewis to level before Fulford 'A' rattled off the next three frames as Dave Atkin beat Lee Eldridge, Sam England edged Dale Rout on the black and Alan Reed got the better of Maria Patsia.

'B' team captain Bob Smith overcame Joe Kimbling, but Sam Parkinson took the last for the 'A' team, beating Derek Martin.

Bootham 'B' stayed top despite losing 5-2 to Acomb 'B'.

They went ahead as Paul Scorfield beat Jeff Winter, but victories for Nick Goodacre, Andy Morgan and Kevin Ventress against Ian Robinson, Matt Smith and Chris Thompson respectively put Acomb in command.

Bootham’s Paul Mahoney beat Chris Nicholson, but wins for Andy Stone over Paul Powell and Steve Rodgers against Lionel Barnes got Acomb across the line.

The first matches of the new Faber Shield Billiards League season saw champions Heworth go down to Bootham 4-2.

Lionel Barnes, for Bootham, beat Brian Birch 15-140, then Ian Robinson had a good win over Gary Rogers 150-94, prior to Heworth’s Darren Clark making breaks of 62 and 58 in his 150-124 success over Alf Appleby.

The score was then levelled by Mark Winskill as he pipped Paul Mahoney 150-145, but Matt Smith made the game safe by beating Carl De Pasquale 150-131.

Acomb entertained Fulford with Mick Borg winning the first frame 150-112 over Glen Mountain. But Wayne Puleston went on to conquer Paul Holmes 150-72 and Alan Reed beat Roland Cox 150-134 to put Fulford 2-1 up.

The aggregate point was then settled as Fulford’s Terry Ward overcame Richard Lillie 150-105 with breaks of 44, 49 and an unfinished 44. Trevor Ventress also beat Bob Plant 150-124.