IT'S getting a bit too one-sided these days.

The Fylde Coast used to put up a real fight in the annual two-leg snooker matches against East Lancashire for the Gascon Trophy.

But their hopes of avenging an 11-4 thrashing early in the season faded in the face of another determined attack from their old rivals.

To be fair, the Blackpool lads put up more of a fight than usual but they had to dig out several of their star players including the Meakin boys, Robert Valiant, Sean Garswood and Paul Drinkwater.

It was an impressive line-up. On paper.

However, East Lancs were more than up to the task, racing into a 5-0 lead at the Falcon, Poulton-le-Fylde, thanks to wins from Ian Dickinson, Brian Sims, Andy Dibb, John Gibson and new boy Chris Brotherton.

Brian Sims hammered John Meakin and Andy destroyed Steve Meakin. The Nelson Old Band Club star played a blinder while manager Sims, coming in after a late withdrawal, was one of the stars of the show.

The Fylde hit back, winning five of the next six frames and only Dave Stephens stopped the rot with an effortless and measured performance on his debut.

With just one frame in it - 6-5 to East Lancs - it was getting just a bit tense. But an excellent frame from Ian Harle against Simon Hellawell settled the nerves.

It was time for the Fylde to unleash their star player, Paul Drinkwater. But Tony Arnott, more used to life on the full-sized tables, proved more than a match. Tony, who plays for the Alexandra Snooker Club, Nelson, and Colne Legion in the Skipton League, barely put a shot wrong and "Drinky" never got in a blow.

Tony, who runs his own utility management company, says he works most nights and doesn't get much chance to practise these days. "I"m playing from memory, " he said modestly.

The match raised £175 for Pendlebury Children's Hospital, thanks to a generous donation from Blackpool businessman John Barraclough who had donated the Gascon Trophy for the event several years ago.

Frame result (East Lancs names first): Ian Dickinson beat Steve Beaumont, Brian Sims beat John Meakin, Andy Dibb beat Steve Meakin, John Gibson beat Mark Rooney, Chris Brotherton beat Danny Rooney, Mick McHugh lost to Robert Valiant, Andy Maudsley lost to Lee Rooney, Steven Kerr lost to Nick Callagher, Chris Lawson lost to Lee Anderson, Dave Stephens beat Adie Lister, Simon McKenna lost to Sean Garswood, Ian Harle beat Simon Hellawell, Tony Arnott beat Paul Drinkwater. The last two frames were played out, Gaz Hampson losing to Stan Twiname and skipper Russell Large edging out Ewan Ritchie for a 9-6 return.