Defending champions Ivybridge A increased their lead at the top of the Totnes and District Snooker League division one this week with an impressive 5-1 win away at Woodlands.

In reality, however, the scoreline does little to reflect the even nature of the tie, with the home side narrowly missing out on four of the frames.

Derwyn Morris scrapped his way to the first frame to put Ivy one up before Colin Drury looked to have levelled it for Woodlands, only for Ivy skipper Howard Mattacott to pinch the frame on the final black.

Paul Hutchings then made it 3-0 to Ivy before Steve Cairns got the hosts on the board in frame four. Drury will be kicking himself again as he was once more on the wrong end of a close finish as Morris claimed his second of the night to make it 4-1.

Home captain Adrian Rendle will also be rueing missed chances in the final frame as he narrowly lost out to his opposing number as Woodlands went down to their second successive heavy defeat at home.

There was a fine display of snooker on offer at Ivybridge as title contenders Ivybridge B hosted struggling Modbury.

No fewer than five registered breaks were recorded in the match, four of them over 40.

The match got off to a barnstorming start as Mark Hembry opened up with a fluent break of 46 for the hosts, which was matched perfectly by visiting skipper Mike Collins, who compiled his own 46 in the second frame to draw level.

Ivy were back in front in frame three when Mark Tomlinson struck a composed 44. In the first three frames, the losing players only amassed 10 points between them such was the quality of break-building on display.

Collins picked up his second frame of the night and his second break of the night in frame four by edging out Hembry with a knock of 36 to level things up at two frames each.

Home captain Mark Colmer then got a piece of the action with his own masterful contribution of 46. Those gathered were no doubt expecting another high break in the final frame, but sadly they were disappointed as a scrappy encounter ended with number one ranked player Tomlinson creeping over the line to give Ivy the win 4-2.

Regal have enjoyed an upturn in form so far in 2018 and so it continued when they travelled to Dartmouth. In what turned out to be a fairly even contest, Regal claimed the win 4-2 and in doing so have given themselves an outside chance of some honours this season.

Skipper John Wood put the Kingsbridge men ahead and the lead was doubled quickly after by Steve Pound. Dartmouth skipper Phil Harris got the hosts back into the tie with a convincing win in the third frame before Noel Edmonds completed the comeback to make it 2-2.

Dartmouth will be kicking themselves for not making the most of their opportunities as Regal battled to take the fifth frame, Hamish MacLachlan putting the visitors back in front.

Wood then rounded off the win by claiming his second of the night in the final frame to put his side within touching distance of the leaders.

The procession that is division two this season continued as Totnes A brushed aside their hosts Mill C with another 4-2 victory. That is now 12 wins from 12 for the leaders and it would be a brave man to bet against them winning all of their fixtures this season, such is their dominance.

Captain Jamie Palmer put the champions-elect in front before George Banfield got the home side level by battling his way to the second frame.

Stand-in Mike Bishop did his teammates proud by winning both frames on debut for Totnes, either side of Palmer’s second frame of the night. Totnes had by now secured the win, the only question was the winning margin.

Nathan Finch came very close to making it 5-1, but a rearguard effort by Chris Savery grabbed the final point for Mill, who remain in third.

Second place Halwell C hosted clubmates Halwell K and will be disappointed to only come away with a draw, although in truth the result could have been worse.

Skipper Edward Wilton held his nerve admirably to clinch a black-ball decider in the opening frame against his opposite number. Andy Dix then drew K level before stand-in Mike Buckpitt gave the ‘visitors’ a surprise lead at the halfway stage.

Kevin Wreyford then clung on for victory in a close frame four to level the match up before Jonny Harris put C back in front 3-2.

K skipper Chris Reeve will no doubt be wishing he could enrol the services of stand in Buckpitt more often as he claimed his second frame of the night to ensure the draw.

At the wrong end of the table, perennial strugglers Diptford and Mill A faced off in what was a typically closely fought encounter. Mill will be rejoicing in the result though as they claimed their first victory of the season, 4-2.

Mill captain Jeff Buckley could have unearthed a hidden gem in Steve Inch, who is becoming more of a regular player these days, and his two wins proved pivotal in the victory.

Roger Hurrell, Inch and Buckley had got Mill off to a terrific start as they tore into a 3-0 lead at the break. This seemed to spark Diptford into life as first Stuart and then skipper Graham Lethbridge fought hard to take the next two frames.

Nerves were jangling then when the final frame went right down to the wire – could Mill hang on for the win or had they blown it?

Step up that man Inch, who calmly closed out the frame and with it the match, much to the delight of his teammates.