ANDY Livesey demonstrated ‘potting patience’ as he came out on top in a frame that lasted well over an hour as the Blackburn and Darwen Snooker League’s knockout qualifiers got under way.

The Feniscowles A player and Mill Hill A’s John Ferguson were involved in a incredible tussle after no fewer than eight reds were clustered around the bottom left hand pocket guarded by the black.

But in the end, it was Livesey who persevered and won the frame by just two points.

Fenny A will have a near 100 point lead over Mill Hill A going in to the second leg thanks in no small part to a well taken 74 break from skipper Ammi Dippolito.

The match between Fox and Hounds and Rishton Golf Club is finely poised with just two points separate the teams.

Lee Entwistle and Derek Haworth took the first two frames and Golfers Tony Haworth and Eric Whittle took the opening pairs.

Ged Patton put Fox further ahead but a stunning 50 point win for Ron Hutchinson put Rishton right back in it.

Not to be outdone the Fox pairing of Patton and Ashe won by 40 to set up a tense finish.

Another 40 point Rishton win from Tony Haworth gave them the edge but Mick McHugh steadied the ship for Fox with a good win in the last.

Wilpshire A have had a disappointing start to the league season but they put all that behind them as they faced first division Orchard.

They managed to win six of the eigth frames to give themselves a healthy 88 point buffer for the return next week.

Another inter division clash between Park and Punch also went to the second division outfit. Highlight here was a gutsy 43 from Mark Jennings and a fabulous black ball win for Danny Haworth over Ian Harle. Hoddlesden travelled to Blackburn Golf Club to face the B team and came away with a narrow 26 point lead.

Blackburn Golf A team travelled to the Anchor in Darwen and take a 106 point lead into next week.

The second division side gave a good account of themselves with four of the five frames the Golfers took going all the way.

Darwen Golf Club have been in good form recently and they continued here battling hard to open up a 43 point lead against Feniscowles B.

The meeting of second division high-flyers Potters B and Hollins Grove was as close as expected, with Potters taking a slim 25 point lead to Darwen for the return . Wilpshire B have had an in and out start to the season and were hoping to get off to a flier when they entertained Longshaw SSC.

Once again this was a close one, this time 5 of the 8 frames went to the black. It was nip and tuck all the way, Longshaw enjoying a slim 7 point lead going into the final frame .

Potters A have a 136 point advantage to take back to Oswaldtwistle next week against their first division opposition Mill Hill B thanks largely to a brilliant 88 break from Murad Iqbal.