Express & Star

Brown century as Hotshots go eight points clear at top

Jamie Brown racked up a break of 130 as Hotshots produced a dominant display to remain top of the Staffs & West Midlands Snooker League.

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The table-toppers whitewashed Shifnal WM A to go eight points clear of the field.

Callum Downing and Karl Ashmore took the opening frames to put the leaders in control before Bal Sembi took a comfortable third frame to put them 3-0 up.

Mark Sutton then made it 4-0 before Brown rounded the night of for his team with that break in the final frame to seal the whitewash win.

Wednesfield Cons A suffered a blow in their fight for survival after a 4-1 home defeat to second-placed Sedgley Ex-Service A dropped them back into the relegation zone.

Daniel Ward and Simon Hickman (40 break) put Sedgley 2-0 ahead before Paul Harrison gave Wednesfield some hope as he pulled a frame back to reduce his side arrears to 2-1.

That proved to be only a temporary setback for the visitors though as they hit straight back to take the final two frames through wins for Andy Highfield (46) and Richard Evans, who took the final frame by just a single point.

Elsewhere, Pennfields A continue to look over their shoulders in the battle to stay up after they were beaten 3-2 at home by Willenhall Liberal A.

Lee Thomson took the opener for Libs before Simon Gough made it 2-0 with a break of 35.

The hosts hit back to make a game of it as Neil Leighton (32) and Jenson Kendrick (60) forced a decider, but it proved not to be enough as the decider was eventually taken by Willenhall Liberals Lee Bannister to condemn them to the loss.

In Division Two, Smethwick Labour are second in the table this week after they recorded a 4-1 home win over Golden Cue D.

Brett Hall’s opening break of 85 set the new highest break for the division this season.

After that break in the opening frame, Scott Longhurst and Terry Flukes continued their team’s momentum to put the hosts 3-0 up.

Desmond Walker managed to get a frame on the board for the visitors, but that proved to be their only win as Ashley Flukes wrapped up the 4-1 win in the final frame.

Leaders Woodfield Social A now boast a seven-point lead in the race for the title following their 4-1 home win over Bilston BC A.

Eddie Gough took the opener for the leaders, but they were pegged back straight away as Jon Hayden levelled the scores. This was to be the only frame they would win though as the leaders took the three remaining frames courtesy of Matt Harvey, Richard Scott and Ed Jennings (32).

Another notable result this week was Stafford Institute B picking up a 3-2 win away at Bilston BC B.

The visitors picked up the win through wins for Paul Edwards, Alex Bailey and Steve Smart, with the hosts’ win coming though Stewart Parton and Dave Blunt (58).

Woodfield Social B look in control at the top of Division Three as they continue to lead the way after a hard-fought 3-2 win away at Goodyear B.

Mike Collins took the opener for the leaders, but they soon found themselves behind as Dave Brooks and Sanjay Pudden put Goodyear 2-1 up.

Not to be denied though, the leaders fought back to take the last two frames thanks to victories from Lee Haselum and Dominic Ferraro.

The highest break of the night this week was a 42 by Essington WMC B’s Mitchell Lowbridge as he helped his team to an important 4-1 home win over Wednesfield RBL A to stave off any threat of relegation.

Daniel Pugh had put the visitors ahead after taking the opener, but Essington hit back to take all the remaining frames through wins for Ben Nicholls, Martin Lacey and David Munn before Mitchell completed the win

The race for promotion in Division Four continues with Bushbury Grid A leading the way after they saw off promotion-chasing Golden Cue E 3-2 at home in a deciding frame.

In a very close match, the opening frame went the way of the visitors with Ryan Hamilton, but they were pegged back straight away as Phil Richards took the second.

The middle two frames were also split with Liam Jones winning for Cue and Duncan Simpson winning for Bushbury to force a deciding frame that was eventually won by Dave Bolshaw to give the leaders another important win.

Second-placed Wolverhampton Electric B are also looking like strong candidates to get promotion as they maintained there gap to the teams below following a 5-0 whitewash win over relegation battling Forty Four Club A.

Rich Castle took the opener by just a single point to put Electric ahead and from that moment on it was one-way traffic as further wins for Neil Drewett, Steve Bull, Callum Drewett and Alex Bull sealed the win

The race for the title in Division Five looks like going to the wire as Rugeley SC lead the way by seven points, but having played a game more after a hard-fought 3-2 win away at fourth-placed Old Wulfrunians B.

Tom Churm and Graham Bull picked up wins for the home side, who are battling for promotion, but it wasn’t enough to get the win on the night as the leaders took the match win with victories for Steve Rogers, Ashley Maxwell-Keys and Brian Tooth.

The Amery Club have put their early season struggles behind as they made it five wins on the spin to move up the table into sixth place following their 4-1 away at relegation-threatened Golden Cue G.

They managed to keep their winning form going as they took the opening four frames through wins for Phil Robertson, Scott Stretton, Dennis Bates and Steven Storey before John Jeavons took the final frame for Golden Cue to avoid the whitewash.

The promotion battle in Division Six is just as intense as numerous teams are still contention, with Wednesfield Cons C hanging on to second place following their 3-2 away win at The Royal.

The home side put up a good fight and managed to pick up wins through Gavin Johnston and Derek Whittaker, but Wednesfield took the win courtesy of wins for Stewart Mason, Matthew Aston and a deciding frame win Mike Rowton.

British Rail’s hopes of promotion suffered a big blow after they were beaten 4-1 away at Woodfield Social E leaving them with alot of work to do if they want to get back into the promotion picture. The hosts picked up this big win through wins for Ian Harbutt, Vic Phillips, John Bryant and Phillip Chambers with British Rail’s only reply coming from Gerald Banks.

Daniel Ward hit a break of 87 on his way to a 3-0 win over Paul Lloyd in the quarter-finals of the Individual Handicap.

He will joined in the last four by Jack Harris (80, 71, 41 and 39), Simon Hickmnan (81 and 33) and Eliott Bastable (56).