All three of Ilkeston’s teams were in action in the latest round of Derbyshire Inter-league pool, and all three came away with something to show for their efforts.
The Ilkeston & District and Davy Lamp ‘B’ teams faced each other in a local derby m
atch at Market Street’s Q-Room venue.
Hosts Ilkeston & District took the opening two frames to lead 2-0, but this would be the furthest apart the two teams got as a see-saw match ensued.
Davy Lamp ‘B’ took the next three frames to lead 3-2, and the remainder of the first set was shared as the visitors moved into a 5-4 half-time lead.
Ilkeston & District’s Paul McNicol quickly levelled the scores with his second frame-win of the match, before Davy Lamp ‘B’ captain Sean Chamberlain restored his team’s lead at 6-5 with his second win of the match.
The home team then won the next two to take only their second lead of the match at seven frames to six.
The rest of the match saw five more players complete personal two-out-of-twos. Lee Randall levelled at 7-7 for Davy Lamp ‘B’ only for Andy Bowley to immediately restore Ilkeston & District’s lead, before the visitors’ Andy Golds again levelled the scores at 8-8 and home team captain Lee Clarke held his nerve to put his team on the hill.
Derbyshire county ladies team captain Andrea Everitt ensured a share of the points for Davy Lamp ‘B’, however, punishing an early mistake with a clinical finish to end a hard-fought contest on a high note.
Davy Lamp ‘A’ faced a tough assignment on paper with a home match against the South Yorkshire border area’s Dinnington & Killamarsh team, who had ended Lamp’s hopes in the Derbyshire Inter-league Cup two weeks ago with a ruthless 10-4 verdict.
The Ilkeston-based side got off to a flying start, however, winning four of the first five frames to take an early 4-1 lead. A run of four unanswered frames meant that it was the visitors who would lead by five frames to four the half-way stage though.
Steve Barker’s second win of the match quickly brought Davy Lamp ‘A’ level, but again Dinnington & Killamarsh replied with a three-frame run to lead by eight frames to five.
