WEST Midlands Police were eager to take advantage of a bye for their closest rivals Hotshots SC by posting a win on their own tables against Pockets SC A in the Stourbridge Snooker League.

But matters didn’t go as the Police had planned as Pockets pulled off a 3-2 win.

Gavin Sloan gave the Police a positive start but Andy Smith, John Betton and Gareth Ward won their games to clinch the win before Kev Franklin captured the final frame, which puts the Police one point clear on top of the Premier Division, while Hotshots now have a match in hand.

Norton Social A are now four points adrift of Hotshots after a 4-1 win over Moor Pool and Snooker B.

Steve Mason, Rob Pitt, Adam Ness and Ashley Aston put Norton 4-0 up before Ian Priest pulled one back.

Brandhall Labour blitzed Netherton Sports and Social 5-0 which included a win for new Midland amateur champion Alan Hooper while Callum Downing kept up his winning streak having only lost twice this season.

Wins for Ash Sidaway, Rick Wooldridge and Rob Clark enabled Amblecote Institute A to get the better of Moor Pool and Snooker B by a 3-2 margin..

Pockets SC B pulled off a 4-1 success against Kingswinford RBL thanks to wins from Alan Turner, Tony Kidd, Dave Timmington and Gavin Evans.

However, Andrew Brown played well to wrest the final frame away from Danny Rees.

l Stourbridge Institute B hold a commanding seven point advantage on top of Division One thanks to a 4-1 victory at Kinver Cons C.

Chris Crumpton, Jon Bate and Mark Hatton clinched the win while a black ball success for Alan Cope edged them ever closer to the title after Graham Turner pulled a frame back for the hosts.

l Stourbridge Snooker League have been saddened after Ken Sloper passed away earlier this month.

His funeral will take place at Stourbridge Crematorium on Wednesday, at 1.30pm.

Ken played snooker for Stourbridge Labour Club, Lye Institute, Amblecote Institute, Stourbridge Police and finally Kinver Constitutional Club.

He played in the Stourbridge League every season since its inception shortly after the Second World War.

Both Ken and his wife Sheila were keen supporters of Stourbridge representative sides and he will be badly missed by all of those who knew him.