Lead down to four

3:24pm Thursday 21st February 2008

Brierley Hill's lead at the top of the Premier Division was trimmed to just four points despite beating third-placed Bearwood Cons 3-2. Mark Ganderton beat Joe Anderson, who had won his last nine frames.

Darren Oakes won narrowly against Dave Green, but Jason Hickman, who inflicted the first defeat of the season on Karl Ashmore, and Callum Downing who did well to win against David Oakes.

With match hanging in the balance at 2-2 the reliable Eliott Barstable, who has lost only three frames all season, took the decider against Mark Cash.

Baggeridge Social A won 4-1 at Harts Hill Social.

Mark Allen, Adam Davies with a 49 break, Reanne Evans, and her brother Ryan who made a 69, all won, while Ian Priest took a frame for the home team at the expense of Mark Jeffries.

It has been a long, hard season for Brierly Hill B, but having won only seven frames all season they achieved their first win against Amblecote Institute A. Dave Brightmore, Lyndon Budworth and, on the final black, Keith Cosnett, enabled them to taste success at last, although they have carried the burden of defeat with humour and good grace.

Nine wins in 11 matches have lifted West Midlands Police into a share of third place, following a 4-1 success against Stourbridge Institute A, with Gavin Sloan making a 56 break.

Kinver Constitutional B resumed outright leadership of the First Division by taking all five frames at Kingswinford SC.

Ron Smith, Arnold Tromans, Colin Stevens-Wood, Norman Jennings and John Rees all won to open up a two point lead.

Kingswinford Cons A who had been joint-leaders won 3-2 at Langley Bowling Club, thanks to Roy Blewitt on the black.

Baggeridge Social B recovered 2-0 down at home to Amblecote RBL B when Steve Welch, Graham Downing and Trevor Cox edged 3-2 ahead.

Brierley Hill C produced another fine performance, winning 4-1 at Amblecote Institute B, with Rob Jones making a 48 break - a great achievement in a competitive match at just mnine years of age.

There was no change at the top of the Second Division with the top three teams enjoying 3-2 wins. Amblecote Institute D won at Kingswinford Cons C, with Colin Lewis, Colin Homer and Gerald Lyons on target, while their O team just got the better of Stourbridge Institute E to remain five points behind in a share of second place.

John Biggs, his son Wayne and Sam Harrison won for Amblecote with Graham Fellows and Tom Hamilton taking consolation frames for Stourbridge. Kingswinford Cons B did well to win 3-2 at Dibdale, courtesy of Alan Jeffries, Mark Daniels and Graham Lewis in the decisive fifth frame, and they shave second spot.

Kinver Constitutional C lost the first frame at Pensnett Libs A, to Keith Wellbourne, but Steve Nicholls, Tim Charnock, Graham Taylor and Steve Jones rattled off the remaining frames to join the other two sides in a shave of the runners-up place.

EDITOR'S CHOICE