NORTON Social A have been crowned champions of Stourbridge and District Snooker League's Premier Division.

They claimed their first title by a single point from Hotshots SC B.

Rob Pitt, with a break of 72, and a somewhat scrappy win by Steve Mason put Norton 2-0 ahead in their home match against Amblecote Institute B, then Ashley Aston and Adam Ness, who recovered from 25 behind after his opponent Mick Cook’s first visit to the table, made it 4-0.

Finally, Darren Oakes, in his first season for the team, with the help of a 41 break, ensured maximum points.

With Norton having done all that they could against opponents who had tried to steal a frame from them, attention focused on the match at Pockets SC Kidderminster, where Hotshots B needed a 4-1 win to ensure a share of the title at least.

Richard Haney won his opening frame but Jon Bate lost on the black when 18 year old Tom Pepperall, who has improved considerably this term, cleared the last four colours.

Luke Higginbotham, with breaks of 38 and 40, and Russ Edwards, with a run of 41, won decisively to put Hotshots 3-1 up, but although Callum Downing established a narrow lead in the crucial final frame, Andy Smith, the reigning Worcestershire individual champion, cleared up with 62 to deprive Hotshots of the title.

It was a fitting end to what has been a superb season for both Norton and Hotshots, and both teams deserve the highest praise for their achievements.

Last season’s top two teams could finish only fourth and fifth this year, but both finished on a high. West Midlands Police beat third-placed team Brandhall Labour 3-2 with Kev Franklin taking the decider, which kept them a point ahead of last season’s champions, Hotshots SC A, who defeated Pockets SC B 4-1.

Meanwhile, in their first season competing in the First Division, Hotshots SC C deserve credit for storming to the top of the league, going well clear, and holding firm when their form dipped. They clinched the championship in a rearranged match at Norton Social B when John Mathews, Dawid Konior and Paul Caldeira saw them to a 3-2 success, and their final margin of victory was nine points, despite slipping up 3-2 in their final match at home to Kinver Constitutional B.

The battle for second place will have to go to a play-off as Baggeridge Social were caught in the shadows of the post by Kingswinford RBL A. Only Luke Whale and Frankie Bennett could win for Baggeridge away to Kinver’s A team, for whom Norman Jennings, Chris Randle and Ron Smith secured the win, while Kingswinford RBL A, who have lost only once since the start of December, edged past Stourbridge Institute A 3-2 to draw level with Baggeridge.

There was yet more drama at the top of the Second Division when Stourbridge Institute B visited their nearest rivals, Wombourne, needing a single frame to make certain of the title. In a very tense and tight affair, however, Bob Mason, who inflicted only the second defeat on Nick Aston, Stuart Taylor, Dave Flavell and John Wooldridge put Wombourne 4-0 ahead, and in the final frame Paul Tristram knocked in the last black to pip Simon Tyler to make it 5-0, and to ensure that these friendly rivals would share the Championship, a deserved outcome to what has been a real season to remember.

Amblecote Institute C had chased the top two teams throughout and finished seven points adrift in third place after a 3-2 win at Kingswinford Cons C.

Amblecote Institute D also finished strongly with a 4-1 win against Stourbridge Old Edwardians, with their most consistent players, Mark Robson and Steven Butcher both winning again, and Old Eds’ slip allowed Amblecote RBL, 3-2 winners away to Stourbridge Institute C, to ease above them into fourth position.