PREMIER League newcomers, Hot Shots SCB opened the season in style with a 5-0 maximum against Harts Hill Social.

Richard Crowley, Jason Jenns, Paul Vyze and Wayne Bentley all won decisively and John Bate won the final ball against Neil Gennard.

Another new team, Steve James Cue Sports of Pensnett, found themselves 2-0 down at home to Hot Shots A, for whom Roy Stokes and Neil Beckley, whose 46 break accounted for the former Cannock-based professional Steve James, had the perfect start.

But Mike Richards, John Rees, who did well to beat Luke Higginbotham and Wayne Willetts fought back to take the match 3-2.

Snooks, also returned to the league, but lost 3-2 at home to West Midlands Police, for whom Pete Gibbons won the decider and Amblecote Institute A gained revenge over Pockets, who had beaten them on the final ball in last season’s, Team Knock-Out Cup, with Rob Clark taking the decider.

Amblecote Institute C, promoted to the First Division came away from Wombourne A with a 4-1 victory. Roy Grainger, Wayne Biggs, Mitch Skidmore and Sam Harrison won, although Stuart Taylor did well to take a frame for the home team against Alan Moore.

Stourbridge Institute C, also promoted, lost 3-2 at home to Baggeridge Social B, John Fellows, Norman Howard and Trevor Cox winning for the visitors, while Baggeridge’s A team beat Kingswinford SC 4-1, with Brett Hughes making a break of 32.

Mark Nemedi had a break of 34 for Langley Bowling Club at Kingswinford RBL and although Craig Whitmore also won, Stephen Small, Greg Reece and Martin Wilson clinched the match 3-2 for the home side.

Kinver Constitutional C began with a 5-0 scoreline against Norton Social B, who had been relegated from the First Division, but all frames were very tight indeed. Steve Jones, who had the most wins last season, Graham Taylor, Norman Jennings, Rob Jones and Steve Nicholls all won for Kinver.

Stourbridge Institute D, won the hard fought derby against their E team 3-2, with John Taylor taking the decider.

Amblecote Institute D, league leaders for much of last season, began with a 3-2 victory against Wombourne B, thanks to Roger McManus, Roy Pugh and John Read, while Steve Ball made a 32 break for the Institute’s E team, 3-2 winners against the F team.

Central SC, Lye, made an encouraging return to the league, beating Kingswinford Cons B 4-1, while Lawrence Binfield took the decider in style for Dibdale against Kingswinford RBL B.