CHAMPIONS Layton Institute crashed out of the Lancashire ten reds snooker tournament.

They were beaten 4-2 by Bolton Road Conservative Club who took full advantage of some hefty handicap starts.

Layton had won the Claremont Trophy in fine style last year and they had been punished in this season's handicaps. But it hadn't made much difference and they had won their quarter-final 4-0.

But it was all different on Sunday night at Layton. John Meakin was punished for a couple of early errors and his determined fightback was to to avail. John Gleave is still wondering how he lost the second frame, but Layton levelled the match through Mick Fletcher and Steve Meakin.

One mistake by veteran Stuart Walker let in Darwen star Baz O'Kane and Paul Carpenter was out of form in the next frame, conceding on the brown.

The semi-finals and final are early next month at the Claremont Con Club.