THE Rainbows found a pot of gold last week, their team the Devils beating Launceston RSL 3-1 to move back into the Northern snooker interclub four.

Josh Rainbow, the competition's youngest player at 15, won 2-1, while his older brother Andrew, 17, won 2-0. Their father Heath won 2-1. 

Roydyn Bishop (2-0) was RSL's only winner. 

With just three weeks left in the A-grade roster, competition for ladder positions is hotting up, with all six teams still a chance to play in the finals. 

Exeter RSL beat Black 4-0 to leapfrog them into second spot, while Blue and Gold drew 2-2, with both teams still in the running. 

For Exeter RSL, Adam Bindoff 2-1, Garry Bakker 2-1, Rex Swain 2-0 and Derek Peart 2-1 were all winners in a very close match, with two games decided on the black in the third frame. 

Brothers Rolf 2-1 and John Stevenson 2-1 won for Blue, while for Gold, Steven Leary 2-0 and John Fraser 2-1 were winners. 

A-GRADE LADDER: (after 17 rounds) 

Launceston RSL 40, Exeter RSL 38, Black 36, Devils 32, Blue 32, Gold 26. 

Exeter victory

IN A Reserve, Exeter RSL won 8-4 against Navy and moved back into the four at Navy's expense. Chris Reid and Greg Reid were Exeter's winners. Amber beat Longford RSL 7-5. Damien Bushby and John Saggers both won 2-0 for Amber and Dennis Collins won for Longford. 

Green drew with Red 6-6, with all players winning one and losing one frame each. 

A RESERVE LADDER: Green 145, Red 120, Amber 118, Exeter 116, Navy 113, Longford RSL 102. 

North's shield 

THE John Hanson Shield, played in honour of the late 1981 Tasmanian snooker champion, was played at the Claremont RSL last weekend. 

North took the shield, winning 20 matches against 12 matches lost. 

North-West won 14 and lost 18, while South won 14 and lost 18. 

Although the North won by six matches, the tournament went down to the line, with the Northern team winning all of the last four matches to clinch victory. 

Best-performed Northern players were Andrew Saltmarsh, Keith Coomber, Rolf Stevenson and Andrew Rainbow in snooker, and Lee Morcom in billiards, all of whom won three matches out of four played. 

Finals time 

THIS week the J. Boag & Son eightball finals get under way with first and second semi-finals in the three divisions, played at various hotels and clubs in Launceston. 

The Premier league second semi-final sees Perth Hotel take on the Commercial at the LWC. In the first semi Duke of Wellington will play LWC Flaming Devils at the Duke. 

In division 1 Mowbray hosts the LWC Scorpions team and the other final is between Sunny Hill and LWC Green at Sunny Hill. 

Division 2 sees LWC Rangers playing LWC Warriors and in the first semi-final Sunny Hill Red plays Sunny Hill Delinquents. 

Grand finals will be played on Saturday, August 28, at the LWC starting at 6pm with all players and spectators welcome to attend.