JUSTIN Astley doesn't use a cue; he uses a magic wand. Three weeks ago he hit a 96 break in the 10-reds Darwen Hotels Small Table League; last week it was a 94 break - when a maximum was on the cards!

Justin, playing on his home table at the Punch, had netted all 10 red and 10 blacks and the first four colours. A long pink wasn't too difficult and the black was virtually hanging; but the pink didn't even rattle.

Opponent Jason Hoole (Hoddlesden) had struck off and left one red in play. And that was all the 16-year-old needed as he coolly screwed, stunned and stroked his way through another devastating performance. Punch went on to send leaders Hoddlesden crashing to their first defeat, a 7-1 hiding.

Danny Slater (Borough B) won his first match of the season and stopped a whitewash by Cemetery A when he beat an out-of-form Andy Maudsley in the last frame. Veteran Sam Singleton beat Steve Halliwell to take the consolation frame in the Top Con A v B clash.

Top Con B moved up to share top spot with Prince who drew 4-4 at Uncle Jack's.

The two teams have 39 points from seven games. Cemetery A are on 34 from six; Punch 31 from six; and Hoddlesden 30 from six.

Top match this week is the rearranged game on Wednesday when Borough A are at home to Cemetery A who pipped them by a point for the league title last season.

Tonight's games: Punch v Uncle Jack's, Hoddlesden v Alexandra A, Borough B v Top Con B, Top Con A v Anchor, Cemetery B v Borough A, Alexandra B v Prince.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.