SECOND placed West Devon A in the Tavistock Snooker League table against third placed Conservative B looked all set to be a real battle and it did not disappoint.

Con B opened up a two frame lead with Lillicrap doing his bit to remove Taylor and Monk edging past Morris. Then came the counter offensive with WD's Kev Rich posting a 44 break which was too much for Con's Evans to respond to and Heathman inflicting the first defeat of the season on Con B's McKechnie.

The decider was a battle of attrition as Con B's Dolan and WD's Emptage jostled in a tight nervous frame. Fittingly it went all the way to the pink ball which Emptage for WD potted to his obvious delight and the delight of all his team mates.

League leaders Conservative A, entertained by West Devon B, were given a run for their money before eventually running out 4-1 winners.

Bell for the Con A's dispatched Smith in the first frame to put his side one up. The next frame was not in the script as Con A's unbeaten Carruthers set about the formality of beating Bath. Unfortunately for Carruthers, Bath was having none of this and took Carruthers right to 'the wire' with Carruthers taking the last three balls to sneak it.

Cook, although potting some good balls, found WD's Hoar too much to handle as Hoar ran out comfortable winner. Lacey sealed the game for the Con A with a rock steady performance against the on form John Rich.

Evans kept his concentration to make it four for the Con's as he tamed Roger Rich in an otherwise scrappy affair. This result stretched Con A's lead at the top of the table to two points coming up to the Christmas recess.