TOWNSEND Social remained the early-season leaders in the Stourbridge and District Snooker League's Premier Division.

They maintained their fine form with a 4-1 victory away to West Midlands Police.

Jamie Spence took the opening frame for them, on the black after Mark Sheehan had made a break of 40, and their three undefeated players, Karl Ashmore, Dave Thompson, with breaks of 35 and 30 and Phil Thompson who had a notable win against Kev Franklin, carried on their good work.

Townsend are one of three teams as yet unbeaten: Pockets SC A had to dig deep to win 3-2 at St John’s Social thanks to good performances from Tom Pepperall, Rich Pepperall, with a fine break of 68, and John Betton who cleared up with 33 in the decider against Nick Carson. Earlier Carl Walker and Simon Thomas had won for the hosts in a match which lasted little more than an hour in total.

Norton Social A also won their 3rd match with Neil Rollinson, Andy Smith and Rob Pitt quickly making sure of the result against Brandhall Labour, who countered through Rob Howen before Graham Tomkins completed a 4-1 win for Norton; they trail Pockets by one point and Townsend by three.

Reigning champions, Hotshots, who slipped up at Pockets the week before, bounced back with all five, albeit well-contested frames at home to Stourbridge Inst A, with Dawid Konior following last week’s 68 break with a run of 38, while the other promoted team, Norton Social B made Amblecote Inst A work hard for victory, but only had Tony Brown’s black ball success as consolation. Earlier, Dave Oakes had made a break of 46 for the Institute.

Justin Donoghue and Jason Hickman took the first two frames in impressive manner away to Pockets SC B, and Maria Catalano & Darren Oakes, on his debut, made it 4-0 but Dave Timmington, who had a huge slice of luck potting blue and developing the frame-ball pink, earned a consolation point against Eliott Bastable who had most wins last season and also won the Premier Division Individual title for the 5th time.

First Division report: Only two teams are yet to lose in the First Division, and after their third 3-2 success Baggeridge Social B are one of the teams at the top. Luke Whale, Mart Collingridge & the reliable Frankie Bennett just did enough to secure a home win against Kinver Const C, but they have to share top spot with Kingswinford Cons C, who suffered their first defeat away to Bahia’s SC A.

Adam Coley and Wayne Whitmore won tight frames for the Cons but Reece Bahia, Karl Weaver and Adam Boswell edged the match 3-2.

In this very competitive division only four points separate the top eight teams: Old Edwardians beat Wombourne 3-2 with Chris Cowley making a break of 58, but they had to rely on a great comeback by Simon Tyler who came from 38 points adrift to beat Dave Flavell in the decider. They share 3rd place with Bearwood Cons who dropped only one black ball frame to Kingswinford Cons B’s Mark Reece. John Chester and Mick Cash have both begun well, taking their first three matches.

After the misfortune of Kingswinford Cons’ C and B teams, their A team could only take a single frame at home to Kinver Const B, John Rees taking the black against Dave Simmonds. Les Cross, Adam Sprague, Steve Nicholls & Marcus Hines all won for Kinver, who are also unbeaten, although they have played just the two games.

Kinver’s A team celebrated their first win thanks to Graham Tranter, Dean Banks & Rob Jeffries before Mark Colbourne, who thwarted Jim Woodhouse’s attempt for a debut win, and the ultra-consistent Mick Cook fought back for Amblecote Institute B.

Second Division report: Amblecote Institute D lead the way in the Second Division, and they are now the only unbeaten team. They responded well to losing the opening frame away to Stourbridge Institute C, when Adam Kensett fell victim to an inspired Sam Mattocks, who had a break of 35, by taking the remaining four frames through Rich Brookes, Mark Robson and Ade & Carl Butcher.

Stourbridge Old Edwardians B beat Amblecote RBL 3-2 to ease into 2nd place, and it was thanks to the Ball family, Steve and sons, Jack and Sam, who all won most convincingly. Billy Green and Rob Boylin ensured that the Legion took some consolation from the fixture.

Amblecote Institute C won a close encounter with Stourbridge Inst D 3-2, thanks to Gez Lyons, the unbeaten Cary Homer, and Ray Vanes, with their opponents replying through Tom Game, also yet to lose, and Paul Robinson.

Kingswinford Snooker Centre have made steady improvement over their 4 seasons together and they finally achieved their first ever 5-0 victory, which came at the expense of Bahia’s SC B, who had made a good start by winning their opening two matches in this, their first season. Matt Surmacz, Steve Hill, Steve Ballinger, Roger Lees and Paul Curry won for KSC but they were made to work hard for their success particularly by Paul Craig, who lost on the black.