THERE appeared to be only one logical outcome when Norton Social A, Premier Division champions, entertained Baggeridge Social, newly-promoted but yet to win a match, however the visitors very nearly produced a shock result.

Luke Whale, with a break of 44 against Graham Tomkins, gave Baggeridge a great start but Steve Mason, also with a 44, levelled the match at 1-1 against Mark Jeffries.

Adam Ness then made an excellent break of 108, failing on a difficult yellow against Ryan Allmark, following on from missing an easy pink on 132 in practice immediately before. Frankie Bennett then levelled for Baggeridge, a useful 28 helping him on the way against the prolific Andy Smith, and the match looked to be their’s when Martin Collingridge established a 39 point lead with one red remaining against Ashley Aston.

Then after red, black, and one successful snooker, followed by an unlucky in-off by his opponent, Aston cleared the colours to complete a remarkable come-back which enabled Norton to regain top spot as their closest rivals Brandhall Labour lost their match away to West Midlands Police. A first win for Baggeridge surely awaits.

Eliott Bastable, Gavin Sloan and Maria Catalano won closely-contested frames to enable the Police to lead 3-0 before Brandhall replied through Rob Howen and Alan Hooper, who beat Kev Franklin in the clash between the two most successful individuals in modern times, both having been Premier singles champion seven times. The Police joined Brandhall in second place, a point behind Norton.

Amblecote Institute A, after two narrow defeats, did well to win 3-2 at Hotshots SC B.

Meanwhile, there was a dramatic swing in fortune at the top of the First Division, with the leaders Kinver Cons B enjoying a good 4-1 victory against Norton Social B, whereas the second team, Kingswinford Cons B, were beaten 4-1 on the tables of Amblecote Institute A.

Keith Rollinson, who has been Kinver’s most regular winner, lost to Luke Grosvenor, but his team-mates, including Rob Jeffries, who made a 32 break in a black ball win against Paul Bowen, rallied round to good effect.

Only Tony Davies, who played extremely well, won for Kingswinford as Mick Cook, Roy Grainger, who cleared the last three balls, Sam Harrison and Mark Colbourne combined for Amblecote’s win.

The gap at the top therefore widened to ten points, and there is a further point to Kingswinford Cons A, the former leaders until they lost three close matches, who resumed winning ways when Thomas Male, Tim Carter and Sam Mattocks combined to defeat Kinver’s A team 3-2.

Wombourne closed in to share fourth place by beating Kinver’s C team 3-2.

Moor Pool & Snooker C ended a run of ten defeats with a welcome 3-2 win on the tables of Stourbridge Institute A. Steve Norton, Ben Wakeman and Paul Jones just did enough to take the match, bringing to an end the Institute’s run of four straight wins, but not before Richard Rudge won his sixth frame in succession.

There was no change at the top of the Second Division with the first three teams enjoying 4-1 victories.

In the West Midlands Inter-town last 16, Stourbridge won their way through to the quarter-finals with a 5-2 win at home to Sedgley C.

Andy Smith and Steve Mason gave them a fine start at Norton Social, but Sedgley levelled the tie when Jamie Stanley and Stuart Barker defeated the younger members of the team, Taylor Fish and Joe Davies, who was making his debut.

Adam Ness and Ashley Aston then made sure of the win, and John Betton, stepping in because of illness, also on his debut for the team, made it 5-2. The team have another home draw on February 19 against Sedgley B, who defeated Amblecote 5-2 at Sedgley WMC.