These matches included a 6–4 victory over Steve Davis (who won the UK title later that year). Although Spencer would run Davis close in future years, this was his only victory over Davis in a recognised event. Spencer reached the semi-final of the Irish Masters in 1979, losing just 2–3 to Ray Reardon, having made the highest break of the tournament (121) at the group stage. Spencer was also runner-up to Reardon in the 1979 Forward Chemicals event, the final of this extended event (which duplicated the old Park Drive 2000 format) was played in front of 680 people at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester. Spencer lost 6–9, and took £2,300. Later that year, Spencer lost 1–4 to Steve Davis in the semi-final of the Pontins Open event. In January 1980, Spencer won £3,000 (a record for a two-day event) at the Wilson's Classic. Broadcast by Granada TV, the final contained another notorious push-shot incident adjudged against Spencer's opponent Alex Higgins. Higgins received a £200 fine for his reaction to Jim Thorpe's controversial decision. Spencer also won the Winfield Australian Masters in 1980, beating Dennis Taylor in the final. This was Spencer's last professional solo tournament victory (he was runner-up in the 1981 event). In February 1981 in the John Courage English Professional Championship, after a 9–1 first round victory over Pat Houlihan, Spencer led Steve Davis 7–6 in the quarter-final, having notched in a break of 112. However, Spencer lost three tight frames to lose the match 7–9. Davis lost just five frames in his other 3 matches combined. Later in that same year, Spencer joined Steve Davis and David Taylor to become the first English team to win the World Team Classic. Spencer crucially defeated Terry Griffiths with the aid of a hard-fought 103 break (he was unable to pot the black during the entire break) in the final, Griffiths having not lost a match in the tournament up to that stage. Davis then secured victory against Ray Reardon in the tie-break to secure the title and £12,000. Such a victory only partially made up for Spencer's great disappointment at the 1981 Masters event. Having dispatched Dennis Taylor 5–2 and Ray Reardon 5–1, Spencer led Terry Griffiths 5–2 with Griffiths needing two snookers in the next frame.