This week saw Southport Conservative Club (formerly Les Dodd SC) go marching on towards a record-breaking sixth successive Division One title in the top flight of the Ormskirk & District Amateur Snooker League. This time around they ended their evening with a comprehensive 6-0 demolition of struggling Aughton Institute E to extend their advantage at the head of affairs to three points. This was back-to-back whitewashes of their opponents in their last two matches for the Southport outfit and, amazingly, their third of the campaign already, and their six consecutive win to keep their 100% record well and truly intact. This match saw the sublime Gareth Hibbott in top nick, as ever, as he compiled a superb break of 55 to take this week's 'Break of the Week' accolade. This was the second time in the last three weeks he has sealed the prize.

Gareth's break began with five reds of the frame remaining were he cut in a fine red at the back of the small cluster to bring the cue ball back up the table and gain ideal blue ball position. After potting that blue ball, Gareth dispatched three further reds, all with high valued colours, with that usual clinical potting and pinpoint positional play. He arrived at the final red, lying awkwardly near the side cushion, after an excellent positional shot to get there and with a terrific pot on that red he managed to get out for the pink ball which importantly put the seal on the frame for him. He then proceeded to pot yellow to pink ball with green, brown and blue pots being most impressive but unfortunately missed a very tricky final black ball to bring an end to an exceptional break on fifty five.

Gareth joined the Ormskirk League at the commencement of the 1999-00 season and represented Southport SC every year since its sad closure just after the conclusion of the 2011-12 campaign. With Southport SC, Gareth won the First Division Title on no fewer than seven occasions, four Kenney Cup triumphs within the space of five seasons including a hat trick of wins and two Le Rose Cup successes. Gareth then joined Les Dodd SC and has helped his side capture the Division One crown for the last four seasons but they moved to their current home in Southport Conservative Club early last season. On a personal note, Gareth has the huge distinction of recording a run of 73 matches unbeaten, spanning over three and a half years starting on 12th October 2010 and ending 4th February 2014, an astounding fact particularly in one frame matches. Gareth has also been Individual Champion of the League four times in 2007-08, 2009-10, 2013-14 and again last season. He
has also been Pairs Handicap Champion on four occasions, including the last two years, with his partner Andy Booth. With the invention on the UK League Snooker Tournament by site founder, Richard Ormiston in 2009, Gareth has been an ever present in the team representing the Ormskirk League and he has been an invaluable member of the team as he has helped us capture the Title an amazing three times. In 2010 & 2012 where we triumphed at the superb South West Snooker Academy in Gloucester and again last November at The Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds were he won the 'Player of the Tournament' award with a magnificent ten wins from ten matches played. Gareth also won the ApolloBet.com Merseyside Snooker Open in 2016, a very prestigious event steeped in history. Finally, Gareth now owns an amazing fourteen spaces on the Ormskirk League's Centurion Plaque and no one will be surprised if he adds to that this term.

Maghull RBL A moved into second position after clinching their fifth victory in their first six matches played. This week they produced an excellent performance with a 6-0 demolition of Stanley Club A to sit those three points off the pace-setters. In fact, this was



the Maghull A team's second full house of the season and their only defeat to date was against the leaders in a narrow reversal. They will, without doubt, be challenging throughout the whole of the campaign. The match saw Maghull A's Andy Jones, playing his first match of the season, in fine form with a really nice break of 36 in his frame success.

Olympic BC B drop into third place this particular week as it was their turn to sit out their free week. The Walton B outfit now sit eight points off the pace but now have that important match in hand over the two sides directly above them but they will certainly be at the business end of things throughout the entire season in their quest to seal their first Division One crown.

Upholland Social maintained their solid opening to the current season with an battling 3-3 draw with Maghull RBL B. The match saw the Maghull B side only able to field a five man team but the Upholland lads soon found themselves 2-0 & then 3-1 down in the encounter but with the help of being awarded one of the final two frames managed to win the other one for a share of the spoils. This result sees them remain in fourth position.

Aughton Institute A's terrific start to the current campaign shows no sign of relenting as they cemented yet another victory this week, their fourth in their five matches currently contested. This time they sealed a 4-2 triumph at the expense of Stanley Club A to continue in fifth spot in the league table and also have a match in hand over three of the four teams above them.

Olympic BC A equalled their best win of the current season as this week they defeated Skelmersdale Wardens A 5-1 to move up into sixth slot in the current league standings. It was the Walton side's second win of that margin in their last three matches and was their third success of the season so far. The match saw Olympic A's Mark Randles in good nick with a nice break of 32 in his frame success.

The other match played this week saw Scarisbrick NSC grab their first win of the campaign with a very solid 4-2 win over Rainford X SSC. The victory was even more impressive as they found themselves 2-0 down in the early stages of the contest but they came fighting back to seal the last four frames of the match. This outcome sees them move up a whole four spots in the league proceedings into ninth.

Olympic BC B sat out their free week this time around as mentioned above.

Other notable break this week was – M Brown (Southport Conservative Club) 31.

The Division One merit table sees Scarisbrick NSC continue to lead the way with 86 points and increase their advantage to thirteen points after a very solid win this time around. Olympic BC A moved up into second position after their excellent win this particular week and lie on 73 points. Skelmersdale Wardens A dropped into third spot after a heavy defeat this time and now sit on 71 points. The sixth week updated table can be found below.








Division 2

Aughton Institute C returned to the top of the league table of the Second Division after this week's round of matches. This time around they ended their evening with a 4-2 triumph at the expense of Stanley Club C and as a result sees them open up a one point advantage. The match saw Aughton Institute C's captain Dave Ball in good form with a break of 20 in his frame win.

The top two sides from last week's standings went into battle this particular week and at the end of a tense, battling match it saw the predictable 3-3 draw reached at the end of the evening's play. This outcome sees the Aughton B team drop into second position in the league standings and the Ormskirk outfit fall into third spot but both sides are only a single point off the pace although the Aughton B lads do have an important match in hand over the first and third placed sides. The match saw Aughton B's Jim Rudge in fine nick with a good break of 23 in his frame victory.

Aughton Institute D moved up into fourth slot, and close on the tails of the leading three teams were they sit just three points off top spot. This week they overcame Stanley Club B 4-2 and will certainly be looking to push on from this result to mount as serious a challenge for honours that they achieved last term. The match saw Aughton D's Vinnie Siner in good form with a break of 22 in his frame success.

The other match played this week saw the Skelmersdale 'Derby match' take place as Skelmersdale Wardens B and club compatriots, Skelmersdale Wardens C went into battle. At the end of a good night of snooker it saw the spoils shared as a 3-3 draw was confirmed. This outcome sees the teams lie in fifth and sixth in the league table respectively. The match saw Skelmersdale C's Ray Cody in good nick with a nice break of 22 in his frame win.