BARRY RANKIN grabbed victory from the jaws of defeat for Bootham ‘A’ against their ‘B’ team in the York Conservative Clubs’ Faber Shield Billiards League.

After Paul Mahoney’s comfortable win, Chris Dower levelled for the ‘A’ team by inflicting a first defeat of the season on Alf Appleby by only two points.

Tim Fillingham moved the ‘B’ ranks ahead, only for Colin Robinson (28 break) to level again with a five-point success – but the ‘B’ team held a 60-point aggregate lead.

Rankin turned the match around with a 63-point win over last-minute substitute Lional Barnes to seal a 4-2 victory.

Leaders Heworth beat Fulford 4-2 in a close finish.

Gary Rogers (48, 65 breaks) and Mark Winskill, who overcame Terry Ward (34, 41 breaks), put Heworth 2-0 ahead.

Tom Wilson reduced the arrears, but Steve Burdett gained a decisive third game for Heworth, which also built a 37-point aggregate advantage.

Alan Reed looked on course to haul that back, but Brian Birch reached 114, the critical score, before Reed ran out and Heworth secured the aggregate by only one point.

Bootham ‘B’, who have yet to open their account, lost their second match in a week as they went down 5-1 to Acomb.

Keith Myers started the rout, only for Paul Mahoney to level. Paul Holmes, Adrian Barraclough and Ian Gillies made it 4-1 and they easily gained the aggregate point.

There are four unbeaten players leading the way in the Cameo Engraving Player of the Year competition, with Barraclough, Myers, Rogers and Wilson neck-and-neck after three games.

Fulford surprised leaders Heworth by coming from behind to win 4-3 in the York Conservative Clubs’ Slater Cup Snooker Pairs League.

A and J Stephenson won the first frame for Fulford, but Heworth then moved 3-1 ahead and built a 57-point aggregate lead.

D Brown and P Cook reduced the deficit with a 39-point win, then N Brennan and M Taylor completed the turnaround with a 30-point victory to snatch the aggregate.

Bootham recovered from their 6-1 thrashing by Heworth to steal a win over Acomb.

Acomb went 2-0 up and, although Bootham levelled, they edged ahead again when J Keen and A Haithwaite won to establish a 20-point aggregate advantage.

Bootham’s N Shipley and D Mattinson won the last frame by 32 points to seal a 4-3 win and put them within three points of the leaders.