CHAMPIONS Rudheath landed a likely decisive blow in a fight to win the Northwich and District League title after beating their closest rivals last Wednesday.

Fred Backhouse and Matty Hubert both cued maximum breaks for the Division pacesetters in their head-to-head with Gladstone C, who won a single frame.

It leaves them 18 points from the table’s summit with only half a dozen matches left.

Barn Owl D will hope to pinch second spot from the newcomers, moving to within five points of a runners-up position following a 5-2 defeat of back-markers Barn Owl B.

Gladstone B rise to fourth after a comfortable 6-1 win at Bowling Green A, while in-form The Elms – victors now in their past three matches – moved further from the relegation zone after proving too strong for their guests Green Dragon A.

Owley Wood A lost for a fourth successive week, this time at Gladstone A.

Hartford B’s advantage at the top of Division Two is a dozen points following their latest success, this time at Witton Chimes.

Meanwhile Hartford A’s sequence of five straight wins ended at home to Bowling Green B, meaning they cede second spot to Greenbank A who were awarded a 7-0 victory against Slow & Easy after the Lostock Gralam-based outfit conceded their scheduled encounter.

Castle Private’s hopes of joining the race for promotion were hit after a 4-3 reverse at Owley Wood B, while Wheatsheaf edged neighbours Owley Wood C in the other match played.

In Division Three, Lion Moulton moved to within two points of leaders Chapels – without a match this week – following a 5-2 defeat of Greenbank B.

Martyn Rowlands’ maximum break was a highlight of their win.

Blue Barrel are close behind them in third position, and with a game in hand, after narrowly squeezing past Beech Tree A by the odd frame.

Nathan Walker potted all eight balls from a single visit to the table in his frame win for the victors, while skipper Darren Penny kept calm to edge a decider.

Barn Owl E were the section’s other victors at the expense of lowly Davenham Legion.