After the break for the Festive period and early finish to the year to allow teams to play any outstanding league matches, it saw a possible pivotal week in Division One of the Ormskirk & District Amateur Snooker League.

On Monday the remaining First Division match was played to bring us completely up-to-date as six times reigning Champions, Fleetwood Hesketh SSC clashed with big rivals, Olympic BC B and after a night of very competitive snooker it saw the Southport based outfit prevail with an excellent 4-2 triumph to move to the top of the league table. The match saw Fleetwood's Gareth Hibbott in majestic form as he compiled the second highest break in the Division so far this term with a wonderfully constructed break of 86 in his frame success. This followed Gareth's sensational break of 91, to take over at the top of the Division One highest break table so far, which was engineered in his team's other postponed match which was played in late December.

In the scheduled matches played this week it saw Champions, Fleetwood Hesketh SSC continue on in their quest to make it a magnificent seven consecutive league crowns. They ended their evening with a 6-0 demolition of Red Lion Social B, their tenth victory from eleven matches played and, amazingly, their first 'full house' of the current campaign, and now hold a two point advantage at the top of the league standings. The match saw Fleetwood's Paddy Tyndall in terrific form with a fabulous break of 68 in his frame win but this superb break was not quite enough to be the week's top break.

Olympic BC B continue to produce excellent results in their quest to grab their maiden Division One title after going so close in the last few campaigns. This time around they recorded a superb 6-0 demolition of struggling Scarisbrick NSC and another battle with the current leaders looks very, very likely. This outcome sees them move into second position in the league proceedings and sit those two points adrift of the pace-setters. The match also saw Olympic B's skipper, Paul Williams seal this week's 'Break of the Week' prize, his second so far this term, with an awesome break of 69 in his frame success. Also in 'half century' form was Olympic B's Steve Evans Jnr who compiled a brilliant break of 50 in his frame victory.

Paul's break began with eight reds of the frame remaining were he drilled in a trademark long red to hold perfectly for the black ball. He took the black and proceeded to pot a further three reds, all with high valued colours, in that quick fire style of his coupled with accurate potting and superb positional play. Paul split the small, remaining cluster of reds of his previous pot but was unlucky not to leave a much easier pot than what he was faced with. Paul cut a very tricky red into a centre pocket to continue his break and his next shot saw an excellent long pot on the brown ball into a corner black pocket to bring the cue ball back down the table towards the final two reds of the frame. He took the final two reds, again with high valued colours, but after potted the blue ball had to travel in and out of baulk to gain position on the yellow ball. Paul went a little to far so it left him an awkward pot but managed to pot it with the rest but this left him a really tricky green. Unfortunately, Paul narrowly missed that green ball to bring an end to a classy, constructed break on 69.

Another team in superb form this particular week was Aughton Institute E who engineered a 6-0 demolition of Rainford X SSC, their third of the season to date, to stay firmly in touch with their nearest rivals. This result sees them move into third place in the league proceedings were they sit just three points off the pace. The match also saw Aughton E's Richie Green in good touch with a nice break of 30 in his frame win.

Red Lion Social Club A now drop into fourth position in the table as they sat out their free week this time around.

Lathom & Burscough RBL were the fourth side this time to grab the 'maximum' points haul as they completed their evening's work with an excellent 6-0 awaydemolition of Olympic BC A, the second time this campaign they have defeated their opponents by this scoreline. This outcome sees them continue in fifth slot in the table but they do lie seven points clear of the team directly below them.

The other match played this week saw Aughton Institute A go into battle with Upholland Social and at the end of the contest it saw a 4-2 victory for the Aughton A lads. This result sees the Aughton A outfit move up two places in the league table and into sixth spot.As mentioned above, Red Lion Social Club A sat out their free week this particular week.

Other notable breaks this week were – G Hibbott (Fleetwood Hesketh SSC) 45, C Hoare (Fleetwood Hesketh SSC) 36, J Holmes (Fleetwood Hesketh SSC) 35 & MBrown (Fleetwood Hesketh SSC) 32. The Division One merit table sees Scarisbrick NSC remain at the top of the table despite their very heavy reversal this particular week and hold a four point advantage, they sit on 90points. Rainford X SSC remain in second position despite their very heavy defeat this time around, they lie those four points off the pace on 86 points. Third spot is now jointly occupied by Red Lion Social Club B despite a very heavy defeat this time around and Lathom & Burscough RBL after their excellent result this time, they both are on 79 points.

Division 2

After the return to action after the Christmas & New Year break it saw normal service resume in Division Two. Leaders, St Cuthberts, had no adverse effects of the festive break as they recorded a very solid 4-2 away triumph at the expense of Defending Champions, Aughton Institute D. The Halsall boys quickly moved into a 2-0 lead and held onto their advantage throughout the contest. This result sees them maintain their handy four point lead at the top of the league table and a battle to the end of the season for the title looks very possible.Skelmersdale Wardens A went into battle this time around with club compatriots, Skelmersdale Wardens C in yet another Skelmersdale 'Derby' match and after a fine competitive match it saw the A side come out on top with a 4-2 victory. The encounter was delicately poised at 2-2 but the Skelmersdale A lads showed their fight by winning the last two frames of the match to seal their win. This outcome sees them continuing those four points behind the pace-setters but they do sit seven points clear on the team directly belowthem and it beginning to look like the top two sides are getting away from the rest. The match also saw Skelmersdale Wardens C's Tony Brown in fine nick with a nice break of 26 in his frame success.

The third and fourth placed sides clashed this particular week and it saw a predictable 3-3 stalemate reached at the end of the contest. The match saw the Burscough based boys race into a 2-0 lead only for the Farmers lads to quickly hit back to level at 2-2 and then the final two frames were shared to see the match drawn. The result sees Stanley Club B remain in third slot, those seven points adrift of the team directly above them, and the Ormskirk based team remain in fourth position lying two further points behind this week's opponents. The match also saw Farmers Club Karl Prescott in good touch with a break of 21 in his frame but it wasn't enough to see him win the frame.

Skelmersdale Wardens B and Aughton Institute B meet up this time around and at the conclusion of their match it saw both sides unable to be separated as a 3-3 draw was recorded. The Skelmersdale Wardens B team quickly moved 2-0 up and maintained their advantage to also lead 3-1 but to the credit of the Aughton B outfit they battled back by taking the final two frames to force the draw.

The other match played this time around saw the bottom two teams clash and it was Aughton Institute C who manufactured their third and best win of the season so far with a 5-1 victory over struggling Stanley Club C. It still sees the Aughton C side in ninth in the league proceedings but they have closed in on the team directly above them.Other notable break this week was – S O'Hare (Stanley Club B) 20.