Brierley Hill Snooker and Pool A extended their lead at the top of the Stourbridge and District League Premier Division to four points when they defeated their closest pursuers, Kinver Constitutional A 3-2.

In a very hard fought affair, Ashley Sidaway and Maria Catalano both won on the black against Darren Oakes and Jason Hickman respectively and Callum Downing made sure of the victory against Andrew Highfield.

For Kinver, James Hill beat Mitchell Mann, making his debut to keep tabs on the leaders with a game in hand.

On an adjacent table, West Midlands Police took over third place, 18 points off the pace with a 4-1 victory against Brierley Hill’s C team, taking advantage of Snooks SC A’s slip away to Pockets SC A.

Consistent pair Chris Southall and Rob Howen won for Snooks but Gareth Ward with a break of 43, Andy Smith and John Betton with an impressive win against the talented Balvinder Sembi secured the win which gives Pockets a six-point cushion above the relegation zone.

Just above Pockets, Bearwood Cons continued their good form with a 3-2 success at Snooks B, thanks to Jamie Elliott, Paul Churm with breaks of 32 and 30 and Gavin Foy lifting them 10 points clear of the foot of the table.

Hot Shots eased into fifth place when Roy Stokes, Neil Beckley, David Konior and Lee Washbrook combined to defeat Brierley Hill B and Norton Social A maintained the pressure in the top four with their own 4-1 victory against Amblecote Inst A to lie sixth.

First Division: Stourbridge Inst A’s lead at the top of the division is now 12 points after a battling 3-2 win against Kingswinford Cons A.

Cyril Tromans, Jon Saunders and Paul Garbett, who did well to beat Wayne Whitmore in the decider, won for them, with John Rees and John Cartwright who became only the second player to beat Paul Bates, responding for Kingswinford.

Kingswinford Snooker Centre lost second place to Pockets SC B when the Kidderminster based team beat them 3-2.

Paul Ross and Thomas Male won for Kingswinford, but Danny Rees, Greg Knuess and Tony Kidd edged it for Pockets.

There was another win for the prolific Mick Cook in Amblecote Inst B’s 4-1 success against Norton Social B and he has had only two defeats all season, while Amblecote’s C team of Pat Willis and Ray Vanes, fought back to draw level after Norman Jennings and Graham Taylor had put Kinver C 2-0 ahead.

Although Ron Smith and Arnie Tromans won again for Kinver B, Steve Ball, Rob Baylin and Mark Jeffries clinched the win for Amblecote RBL.

Second Division: The top two teams in the division both lost. Only Tom Moran and Roy Tromans could win for Stourbridge Inst C as the visiting Brierley Hill Snooker and Pool D team through Rob Sidaway, Paul Jones and Mark Smith earned a 3-2 win lifting themselves into third.

Second placed Baggeridge Social established a 2-0 lead away to Kingswinford Cons B through Luke Whale and Martin Collingridge, who had a 38 break on his debut.

But the home team bounced back thanks to Lee Wragg, Leigh Bennett and Phil Wakeman, to take the match 3-2.

Paul Churchman, Bob Jones and Stuart Taylor did well enough to help Wombourne maintain fourth place in a 3-2 victory at Amblecote Inst D, keeping them just a point above Stourbridge Institute B who won 3-2 on the tables of Kingswinford RBL B.

In a tight match, Trevor Pardoe and Simon Tyler both won on the black, but Geoff Cunningham won decisively.Keith Wellbourne and Mick Hughes replied for the home team.