The Plough & Harrow from Bridge have further strengthened their position at the top of Group A with two games remaining before the final, after a 6-0 win at the Magnet B.  Singles wins for Ian Dennett (4530), Keith Symes (3790) and Paddy Maher (5210) gave the Plough the perfect start.  Baz Symes & Keith Symes took the first doubles, before a close leg was taken by Ian Dennett & Mark Maher against Steve Philpott & Rob Robertson 2920-2200.  Paddy Maher & Baz Symes knocked 4030 points for the final frame.
The other match in Group A saw a 5-1 win for the Lion at home to the Market Inn from Sandwich .  Neville Potts (4910) took the first frame, before a dramatic win for Gareth Butcher against Wack Sampson 4000-3780 - Sampson had trailed by 3000 points before staging a comeback that just fell short of victory.  Sampson & Potts beat Alan Farra & Butcher
5440-3220 to give the Lion the lead, and then Potts partnered Matt Andrews to another win.  Tim Hayes 6940-3820 against Alan Farra won a delayed final singles, and the final frame was also won by Hayes, partnering Sampson.

In Group A, the Alma continue to lead the way after a 4-2 win over the Brickmakers B, with a few "stars" from the Alma A making guest appearances.  Paul Callanan took the first leg with 1760 points, after Paul Dargan black-pegged going for the win.  A similar story in the second frame as Dave Howarth beat Alan Holmwood 2330-BP.  Simon Jones pulled a point back for the Brickies with a 6510-2430 against John Mitchell.  The first doubles saw Bill Edwards & Mitchell win, but Paul Dargan & Alan Holmwood beat Alma A stalwarts Chris Saville & Ted
Batchelor as Batchelor black-pegged needing the 200 for victory.  In the final game, Callanan & Edwards defeated Jones & Dargan 3200-1230.  The Magnet A finally recorded their first win of the second phase, 4-2 at the Plough & Harrow Tilmanstone.  Ward Griffith beat Brian Carpenter 1370-910, before more straightforward victories for John Higgens (5350) and Mike Callanan gave the Magnet a 3-0 lead.  Obviously the Magnet were determined to obtain their first win in a group in which they started favourites, as Mike & Lin Callanan immediately made it 4-0 in the first doubles, but only after their opponents Ann Keen & Karen Keen black-pegged.  Ann Keen & Brian Carpenter scored an impressive 5720 to take their first point of the night, and in the final frame Carpenter & Karen Keen beat Lin Callanan & Ward Griffith 2560-1730.

The Fitzwalter Arms may soon be ordering new trophy polish after a resounding 5-1 at the Butchers Arms to pull them clear in the Plate competition.  Nigel Scott (2810) Steve Lake (3010) and Lee Byford (1800) took all the singles for the Fitz, and the doubles continued in similar fashion as Lake & Byford won, and then Scott & Lake defeated Doug Vickers & Paul Collins 3260-2410.  The consolation point for the Butchers came in the last frame as Jan Kershaw & Vickers were triumphant.