VETERAN Charlie Beckley hammered a couple of nails into the Cemetery's hopes of winning the Darwen Hotels Snooker League title - a devastating 97-23 win over Dave Stevens which took not only the frame point but also the aggregate point for down-table Mill Gap.

Mick Abbott had won the opener and the league leaders were quickly 2-0 down and over 100 points behind. In the circumstances they did well to scramble a 5-3 win in which Andy Maudsley was superb. If it had been the Kasserine Pass instead of the Mill Gap he'd have been awarded the VC for conspicuous gallantry.

Borough's charge continued with a hard-fought 7-1 win away to Alexandra B and they are now just four behind the Cem. Borough's fighting spirit shone through the encounter and the only bright spot for the home side was Albert Brighty's win.

Champions Punch fell apart against bottom club Anchor and managed only five points while Top Con A took a couple of points from their star-studded B team, Gary Banks notching yet another scalp.

Tonight an under-strength Borough side are at home to Cemetery B who are out to do their A team a favour.

Other games: Uncle Jack's v Punch, Alexandra A v Anchor, Cemetery A v Top Con C, Top Con B v Mill Gap, Prince v Alexandra B. Open date: Top Con A.

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