BILLIARDS & SNOOKER: WIDNES town team are through to the Merseyside Inter-League Billiards competition final after a 3-2 away win against Prescot.

Leon Hosking took the starring role with a 76 break in the all-important victory.

Andrew Housley chipped in with a 51 break while the other Widnes victory came from Richard Whittle.

The final against Liverpool's CMS League has still to be arranged. n On the Widnes & District Billiards League scene, Farnworth A recovered from a recent slide with a 6-1 demolition of Widnes Conservative Club B which included big wins from Paul Cleary (100-38) and John Davenport (100-31).

Widnes Cricket Club also triumphed 6-1 with Billy Webster (100-83) and Leon Hosking (100-37) continuing his great form.

Ford kept their slim title hopes alive with a 6-1 drubbing of WBC to which Tony Collins (100-77) and Tommy Barton (100-51) contributed most.

Widnes Rec edged closer to another title - albeit with the narrowest of victories at Moor-field where John Mercer 100-75 and Kenny Boscoe 100-32 starred.

Widnes Conservative Club A edged home 4-3, Ged Connor (100-64) and Jimmy Gallagher (100-70) doing it for the 'old guard.' n Ford A, Division One leaders in the Widnes & District Snooker League, were again unstoppable as they easily brushed aside second-placed St Bede's 7-2 with Peter Corns (82-35) and Jimmy Jenkins (112-23) inflicting the biggest damage.

Overton destroyed Widnes Conservative Club A 7-2, Mike Lloyd triumphing 98-14 and Geoff Brassington 106-22, including a 55 break.

St Basil's A are the 'dark horses' for second place, a 7-2 win over Moorfield A coming largely thanks to Shaun Douglas (86-21) and Alan Dunne (78-18).

Village A only beat Farnworth A 6-3, despite having all six winners. Mike King being the highlight with his 72-16 frame.

Widnes Cricket Club A ran out 6-3 winners against struggling Halton RBL with Phil Gerrard (65-28) and Dave Loseby (86-35) the class acts.

St Basil's B aided their survival hopes by beating St Joseph's A 5-4 with C Jones (58-30) and M Fitzsimmons (57-27) doing enough.

USC A now hold a commanding lead in Division Two, thanks to an 8-1 demolition of Widnes Cricket Club C.

Paul Tudor (82-21) and Howie Jones (92-21) had got the Prescot Road side off to a tremendous start.

Widnes Bowling Club earned a rousing 8-1 away win with Phil Slavin (82-16) and Gary Price (79-16) leading the rout.

Widnes Rec scuppered St Joseph's B's chance of a top-three place by winning 7-2 away.

Superb performances came from Tony Yasities and Paul Antrobus along with a crucial final pink of the match from Tommy Laughton helping the Rec to victory.

Gaz Rowlands' 35 clearance was the highlight for HGSC B as they won 7-2.

HGSC A won by the same score with Ged O'Brien having an 80-41 frame against second-placed Stadium A.

Pavilions continue their sensational form by winning 7-2. Lee Gascoigne (70-31) and 'Dynamite' Dave Ellison (86-38) produced the decisive efforts.

Farnworth C upset Ford B 7-2 with Dave Boswell (77-42) and a 31 clearance by John Davenport proving sufficient.

Farnworth B edged out Village B 5-4 with John Tollitt (59-38) earning his team the victory.

A major setback for Division Three's USC B saw them go down 7-2 at home to improving Prescot Reform.

Young captain Dave Minshall was the star of the show with a 105-10 frame, which included a division's best 56 break.

Stadium C stopped their slump, winning 8-1 - mainly due to Paul Goulden's 66-25 frame.

RAOB also won 8-1 to keep up their challenge, Wally Raley (78-23) being the main contributor.

Widnes Cricket Club B gained a hard-fought 6-3 success at Oddies with star man Geoff Soul winning 90-27 first on.

Farnworth D won 5-4, helped by a final-frame 29 break from town team junior player Geoff Swales.

Farnworth E gained a similar victory at Simms Cross B with Eric O'Brien and Paul Williams both winning well.