FULFORD and Bootham ‘B’ are battling it out at the top of the York Conservative Clubs’ Faber Shield Billiards League.

Fulford had a convincing 5-1 success against Bootham ‘A’ in the first match of the week to move top of the table, but their reign was shortlived as Bootham ‘B’ replaced them as leaders despite losing 4-2 to Acomb.

Terry Ward (54, 21 breaks) and Glen Mountain (28 break) put Fulford 2-0 ahead before Jeff Brown reduced the arrears with a 54-point victory that put Bootham two ahead on the aggregate.

However, Alan Reed, who held off Colin Robinson (25 break), and Bob Plant (24 break) made it 4-1 for Fulford, who also took the aggregate.

Bootham ‘A’s Tim Fillingham fought back from more than 80 points behind with breaks of 36 and 20 but was unable to stop Richard Lillie winning the first frame for Acomb.

Johhn Ashwell recovered from 47 behind to level at 129-129, but Alf Appleby got home by five points.

Bootham captain Ian Robinson went 136-98 ahead of Trevor Ventress, who fought back before losing by 14 points.

Paul Holmes won with breaks of 23 and 26, while Ian Gillies had a comfortable win in the final game to secure the aggregate.

Lillie’s win saw him regain the lead in the Cameo Engraving player of the year competition with eight wins in ten games.

Bootham made it five wins in a row in the Slater Cup Snooker Pairs League with a 5-2 triumph over Acomb to open up a four-point lead at the top.

B and D Hough opened with a win for Acomb, but Bootham went 2-1 ahead. M Frank and D Chapman levelled, only for Simon Robinson and Ken Clifford to move Bootham in front again.

P Mattinson and Norman Shipley potted pink and black in the last game to make it 4-2 to Bootham, who easily gained the aggregate.

Heworth kept up their challenge with a 5-2 success against bottom club Fulford, pushing Acomb down to third place in the process.

K Batty and John McCready (25 break) started a run which saw them win the first four games before Fulford took the last two.

Bootham and Heworth meet in the next round of fixtures and, with only two games left, the clash could be decisive.