AFTER a dreadful start to the season, Stanley B have eventually got themselves out of another fine mess to climb into the top half of the B&G Engineering C Section, thanks to an 8-1 defeat of Fishpool B last week.

Excellent performances from the dazzling Daves -- Hindle and Bennett -- in the fourth and fifth frames, set up the possibility of a whitewash, which was only prevented when Fishpool's P. Dixon potted a re-spotted black to win the final frame.

Bury Bridge B went top after a 7-2 win at Hollins B, thanks chiefly to emphatic wins by Dave Harris 96-68 and D. Taylor 73-27.

Summerseat were indebted to Andy Holt's final frame 79-40 to nick a 5-4 win at Huntley B to hold on to second spot.

Hot Totty's winning streak continued thanks to wins by big Ian, 'Queen' Mick, and John Smith at Central Snooker, whose own hopes of promotion seem to be fading.

In a game of two halves, East Lancs B stormed into a 3-0 and 130 chalk lead against Bury Snooker D, thanks to excellent performances from Jim Garvey, T. Casey and J. Birtwistle. The final three frames were almost equally emphatically won by the visitors' Harold Marney, Mike Nortley and Lindsey Haworth, only just failing to save the match by 15 points.

K. Bowles 73-27 and J. Hill 84-52 helped Whitefield Bowling Club clinch a 6-3 result at Stanley A in a high-scoring match.

In the A section, Salisbury C went into an early two-frame lead at Elton Lib B, only for Phil Hamer to revive the home side's fortunes with his 93-29 frame win, which included a 29 break. The joy was short lived, however, as Dave Cahill stormed home 86-44 in the next frame to set up a 7-2 win for the visitors.

Heywood Reform consolidated their position at the top with a 6-2 home win against East Lancs A, though things looked a little shaky after Paul Rothwell and George Critchley had taken the first two frames for the visitors, George's 85-54 frame culminated in a 33 clearance. The home side hit back to take the next four frames and included breaks of 45 by J. Groves and 25 by Tony Preston.

Bury Snooker C climbed out of the bottom three with a 6-2 win over St Mary's; John Daniels' 89-66 frame, which included a 42 break was the pick of the action.

Derek Bury's 110-55 frame, which contained a 44 break, set up Tottington D for a 6-2 win over fellow strugglers Walmersley D when Paul Taylor weighed in with his 94-48 frame. Rod Hamer gained a little consolation for the visitors, with his 64-44 win in the final frame, which included a 26 break. The result did little for both teams who are joint bottom of the table.

Tottington A were given a great start by Ian Brearley 82-19, and Andy Rhodes 76-29, and went on to defeat Prestwich Institute 7-2.

Things are getting tight at the top of the B section. Walshaw B steadied their nerves with a 6-2 win over their A team colleagues who needed the points themselves for very different reasons. Wins at either end of the match by Matt and Gloss, were cancelled out by a silky show from Stevie Brooks 70-43, while Alan Rossy's battle of the billiards ended 73-35 in his favour.

Elton Lib C inched closer in second spot thanks to a 7-2 win at Whitefield Snooker, captain Russ Haworth leading the way with his first frame 85-42, which included a break of 37. A clean sweep at dominoes gave them the Nailers Green Roll Up prize.

Salisbury D are only four points away in third place and meet Elton Lib next week. They overcame Walshaw C 7-2, with convincing performances from Steve Slymon, Cliff Pooley and Gary Wright.

Walmersley C still harbour faint hopes in fourth place with a similar score-line at Bury Bridge. Eric Owen sealed victory with his final frame 86-12.

A Brucie Bonus 86-44 helped Tottington B to a 6-2 win at home to Elton Lib D, while Fishpool A's recent good run continued with a 7-2 result at Salisbury B. Paul Taylor settled a close match with his final frame 55-39 which gave the visitors the aggregate by just nine points.

Eric Blinkhorn and Norman Ramsbottom both had emphatic wins to clinch a 5-3 home win over Hollins A.

BREAKS: J. Groves 45; D. Bury 44; J. Daniels 42; R. Haworth 37; G. Critchley 33 unf; J. Lowe 32; P. Hamer 29; R. Hamer 26; T. Preston 25.

CENTURIES: D. Bury 110.

NAILERS Green Roll Up: Elton Lib C, 12 points, £20.

The final delegates meeting will be on Thursday, April 5 at Bury Bridge WMC. All members must attend.

LATE CARD: Walmersley A v Bury Snooker B.

FIXTURES

A SECTION

Bury Snooker C v Walmersley D; Tottington D v Huntley A; Heywood Reform v St Mary's; East Lancs A v Tottington A; Prestwich Ch Inst v Bury Snooker B; Walmersley A v Salisbury C; Elton Lib B open date.

B SECTION

Whitefield Snooker v Elton Lib D; Tottington B v Walshaw A; Walshaw C v Elton Lib C; Salisbury D v Fishpool A; Bury Bridge A v Walshaw B; Salisbury B v Hollins A; Elton Lib A v Walmersley C.

C SECTION

Hollins B v Stanley B; Fishpool B v Bury Snooker D; Huntley B v Bury Bridge B; Summerseat v Tottington C; Seedfield v East Lancs B; Central Snooker v Whitefield Bowling; Stanley A open date.