THE first stalemate of the Bury Billiards League season took place when second-placed Norman’s Snooker Club went to league leaders Bury Snooker Club.

Although Jack McLaughlin took the opening game by a huge margin, Aaron Davies and Trevor Smith won the remaining games comfortably to balance out the result of the opener.

This was the first time this season that the leaders did not win and their nearest challengers managed to reduce the lead to just nine points. The most improved team of recent weeks must be Elton Liberal Club B who, after losing the first five matches of the season, have now won the last five and have leapt up to joint-third place on 29 points. There will be a delegates’ meeting on Monday, at Seedfield Bowling Club, starting at 8pm.