FRODSHAM Red Lion overcame a shaky start to reach the semi-finals of Cheshire's Brunner Cup.
They went through by eleven chalks against Houldsworth WMC at Mobberley Railway Club after winning the last eight blocks.
Mark Nield came from behind to beat Tom Johnstone 21-20 while Rob Winnington, at 12, made sure with his 21-10 defeat of Charlie Bebbington.
In the Frodsham & District League, Grapes A stayed top despite dropping 19 chalks against Red Lion B - all to Ron Dwyer, a marvellous 21-2 away winner.
This helped Red Lion A to reduce their deficit to just one chalk.
Barry Ellams' 21-3 was the pick of the five single-figure wins against Kings-wood B (Graham Donnelly 21-6).
Helsby D held onto third despite crashing at Tiger's Head A, in fourth, with the hosts' Chris Koral winning 21-8.
Other good individual performances were Chetwode A's Geoff Nicholas (21-8), Phil Whalley (Castle Park A, 21-7) and Neil Ocego (Pavilions A, 21-8).
Pavilions B's Division Two domination continued with 21-9 wins from Ged Smith and Kevin Looker in home victory over Runcorn Hill (Jim Colley 21-8).
But the big story was a fine first campaign victory for Pavilions E, at home to Subscription A.
Elsewhere, Gwenda Olson's 21-8 lifted Goshawk B, easy home winners over Manley A, into second place with Willow Brook A narrowly defeating Grapes B to stay third.
Also giving good individual accounts of themselves were Joan Pill (Castle Park B, 21-7), Fred Hart and Colin Wass (both 21-4 for Helsby A), Brian Horsefield (Conservative A, 21-7) and Denis Sharp (War Memorial B, 21-6).
Norton Arms B (Jon Terretta 21-8) returned from fourth-placed Egerton B with victory and their top Division Three ranking intact.
Halton A (Mike Egerton 21-7) just held on to second spot in defeat at third-placed Subscription B (Mike Highton 21-8).
Solo stars also included Peter Goodwin (Norton Arms A, 21-4), Tony Nield (Crowton, 21-5), Alan Jones (Kings-wood A, 21-9) and Kingsley's Bev Brooks (21-9).
Tiger's Head B posted their first win - by one chalk at War Pavilions D had a 21-2 from Brian Peck in victory at Kingsley B to re-main ahead in Division Four from Conservative Club B (Ed Carter 21-2), convincing winners at Helsby C.
Chetwode B (Les Holah 21-7) stayed in third although beaten at fourth-placed Union Vaults (Barry Hopley and Dave Edwards, both 21-6) while Willow Brook B (Phil Ellis 21-7) remain in contention.
