THERE has been precious little between the two teams locked together in pursuit of what would be their first Premier Division championship, but there was a major change in fortune as Norton Social A lost for only the third time to hand rivals Hotshots B a three point lead at the top.

Steve Mason gave Norton a great start by beating Geoff Williams but Jason Hickman levelled the scores by handing Adam Ness only his second defeat of the season; alas for Norton their last three players only potted one red between them as Alan Hooper, Wayne Bentley, with breaks of 35 and 48, and Bal Sembi, with visits of 36 and 81, swept Brandhall to victory. They trail Norton by eight points.

Meanwhile, Hotshots B completed their sixth maximum points haul against Moor Pool and Snooker; although made to work hard for their success, they achieved the task efficiently.

The outcome of the championship may well depend upon this weekend's clash between the top two at Norton, after which just two matches will remain. Brandhall will have to wait to see if there’s any slip from the top two.

West Midlands Police were a player short at Moor Pool and Snooker A through work and illness, so did well to win 3-2 thanks to Kev Franklin, Gavin Sloan and Pete Gibbons, but they were joined in fourth place by Hotshots SC A, who won 5-0 away to Amblecote Institute B.

Just one point adrift, Mike Richards, Andy Round and Rob Clark all potted really well to earn Amblecote’s A team a 3-2 win away to Pockets SC B for whom Bob Moran and Danny Rees replied, but Pockets’ A team managed to win 3-2 at Netherton Sports and Social.

First Division leaders Hotshots SC C suffered just their third defeat when only John Mathews and Paul Caldeira could win for them at Kingswinford Cons A; John Cartwright, Wayne Whitmore and John Rees did well to win for the Cons, easing any relegation worries.

Hotshots’ advantage was trimmed to five points as their three closest challengers won. Martin Collingridge, and brothers Luke and Matt Whale took the first three frames for Baggeridge Social at home to Kinver Constitutional C, and Norton Social B are now four points further back after a 4-1 win at home to Kinvers’s A team.

Norman Jennings gave Kinver a good start but Luke Grosvenor and Joe Davies won comfortably and Dave Cartwright and Pete Cairns both won on the black for Norton.

In another very tight match, Kingswinford RBL A just got the better of Moor Pool and Snooker C 3-2.

Kinver’s B challenge faltered when only Dean Banks could win for them at home to Kingswinford Cons B.

Meanwhile, Stourbridge Institute B came through a difficult match with neighbours Stourbridge Old Edwardians with a 3-2 win. They now have a two point lead at the top of the Second Division.

Wombourne, lying second, were also given a difficult time on the tables of Kingswinford Cons D, but the greater experience of Stuart Taylor, Bob Mason, John Wooldridge and Dave Flavell saw the visitors win 4-1, John Cumiskey losing on the black to Paul Curry.

Third-placed Amblecote Institute C remained eight points behind Wombourne with a 4-1 win at home to Stourbridge Institute C.