GLADSTONE C closed to within a victory of a second successive Northwich and District League title after seeing off Castle Private B on Wednesday night.

After 15 successive wins, their lead at the Division One summit is worth 24 points.

Rudheath stay second after coming back from 3-1 down to win at Castle Private C, where Jason Chester won a deciding frame for the visitors.

Gladstone A are only five points further back, closing the gap further after a 5-2 win against Gladstone B.

Captain Conor Hardman clinched the seventh frame for Green Dragon A as they squeezed past Castle Private A, while Barn Owl C’s faint hopes of avoiding relegation were hit when they lost against Barn Owl D.

Greenbank A, for now at least, continue to set the pace in a race for promotion from Division Two.

However they were grateful to Nigel Massey for holding his nerve while securing a narrow 4-3 victory away to Moulton Legion.

Title rivals Nectar’s thrashed Owley Wood, sending them to the relegation zone.

Barn Owl E and Lion A, victors against Barn Owl B and Greenbank C respectively after a final-frame shoot-out, are poised to make the most of any slip-ups by the teams above them.

Resurgent Witton Chimes A recorded a fourth successive league win, this time at home to Iron Bridge, to close to within two points of safety.

There is no change at the top of Division Three, where leaders Lion B and Bowling Green recorded identical wins.

Elsewhere, Darren Penny celebrated a first maximum break of the campaign for Blue Barrel A in a 61 thrashing of Green Dragon B.

David Slater won a deciding seventh frame for Greenbank B against Sale Barge, while Barn Owl A edged out clubmates Barn Owl H in their derby duel.

Results

Northwich and District League

Week 21, Division One: Barn Owl D 5 Barn Owl C 2; Castle Pvt C 3 Rudheath 4; Gladstone A 5 Gladstone B 2; Gladstone C 5 Castle Pvt B 2; Green Dragon A 4 Castle Pvt A 3

Division Two: Barn Owl E 4 Barn Owl B 3; Greenbank C 3 Lion A 4; Moulton Legion 3 Greenbank A 4; Nectar’s 6 Owley Wood 1; Witton Chimes A 5 Iron Bridge 2

Division Three: Barn Owl A 4 Barn Owl H 3; Blue Barrel A 6 Green Dragon B 1; Bowling Green 6 Blue Barrel B 1; Greenbank B 4 Salt Barge 3; Lion B 6 Witton Chimes B 1

Additional reporting by Kevin Barry