ONE of the reasons for Hotshots Snooker Club’s Premier Division championship winning 2013-14 season was their unbeaten home record but they slipped up 3-2 in the first match of the new season when Brandhall Labour came to visit. Geoff Williams, with a break of 54, Jason Hickman, with a 38, and Alan Hooper secured the win for Brandhall.

Hotshots’ B team began really well with a 4-1 success away to last season’s runners-up West Midlands Police. Jon Bate, Luke Garland, Luke Higginbotham, and Richard Haney, with a 41 break, all won decisively, before Gavin Sloan cleared the colours against Callum Downing to take a point for the Police.

Norton Social A had a tough start away to Amblecote Institute A, but enjoyed a resounding 5-0 victory, thanks to Steve Mason, Rob Pitt, Ashley Aston, Adam Ness and, in his first appearance for the team, Darren Oakes, while the Institute’s B team, newly promoted, lost their opening game, away to Netherton Sports & Social, who took all five frames.