The Fleet, however, are the new odds on favourites for the league title if they can triumph in their next two league matches against the Tavern and the Flemington. They scored a convincing 6-3 home success to all but end the Commercial's league hopes for this season and stay on the coat tails of the leaders.

In the other big match of the night, the reigning champions the Robins Nest 'A' had a must win game away at the Tavern if they wanted to have any chance of retaining their title.

They promptly went 3-0 down in the pairs and their challenge looked in tatters. However, four singles wins later put them 4-3 ahead before McCraw steadied the ship for the Tavern to take it into a decider.

Bones Blaikie showed everyone his gravy to defeat Stuart Black to give the Robins Nest 'A' a huge result and keep them three points off the pace. With only two away games remaining however, they may not have enough points available to retain their title this season.

The Tavern on the other hand still have four away games and have the most points to play for in the remaining six weeks of the season of the four teams at the top so their five point gap is very closable given they have most of the top teams left to play.

The Wheatsheaf went down to another home defeat this time to the Ship 'A' by 6-3 and the First and Last continue to get results against the weaker teams in the league winning 6-3 at the Ship 'B'.

The Eildon were the big winners of the night with an 8-1 success away at the Robins Nest 'B' whose slow progress is akin to the building work at the Millbank bridge between Ayton and Eyemouth. Despite throwing increased resource at the problems on both these projects the obvious benefits are hard to establish.

In the top 16, the pocket messiah Bannerman leads the way and congratulations to Hoody from the Wheatsheaf who sits in second place despite playing a game less than his rivals with only two defeats all season. Duane Patterson and Chris Alexander are third and fourth respectively.
G.R.