Humphries hits a ton as Baggeridge capitalise on slip

Wes Humphries made a break of 112 – the second highest this season – in the opening frame, before Dave Hall’s 50 break helped to make it 2-0.

Justin Donoghue made it 3-0 in a rapid frame, bouncing back with 45 then clearing from the last red after John Betton had opened with visit of 54.

However, Rich Pepperall and Andy Smith ensured Pockets took some consolation from a well-spirited, entertaining match.

Hotshots lost 3-2 away at Brandhall Labour, for whom Stuart Perry, Andy Round and Paul Caldeira took the honours. Frames won by Jamie Brown and Roy Stokes ensured Hotshots dropped no more than two points off the pace.

They have to be content with third place, however, as Amblecote Institute A won 4-1 on the tables of Hotshots B to enable them to draw level with Baggeridge.

Ash Sidaway, Dave Oakes, Mark Ganderton and Rick Wooldridge all won comfortably, but Rob Clark lost on the black to Mark Kelly to end a great run of 10 successive wins.

Defending champions Townsend Social beat West Midlands Police 4-1 – Karl Ashmore on target again with a clearance of 88, while Mark Sheehan secured the Police’s frame with a break of 55.

The top two in the First Division clashed, with Norton Social B winning a tight match away to Kinver Constitutional C 3-2 to give themselves a four-point cushion. Norton secured the win thanks to Paul Bowen, Tony Brown and Andrew Brown.

Pockets SC B edged another tight affair, 3-2 against Kinver’s A team. Jay Shuck’s 17th successive victory clinched the match for Pockets, who have drawn level with Kinver C.

Dudley Ex-Servicemen lost ground on the leaders when Kingswinford Cons A paid them a visit and won 4-1.

Bahia’s SC A slipped to a 3-2 defeat at home to Kinver’s B team, despite Reece Bahia making a break of 50.

Old Edwardians A went 2-0 up at home to Baggeridge Social B, but Neil Fellows, Dave Whale and Luke Whale produced a fine recovery.

Moor Pool & Snooker edged out Amblecote Institute D, with Ian Priest taking the decider for the hosts.

Amblecote Institute B whitewashed their C team thanks to Cyril Tromans, Mick Cook, Alan Moore, Sam Harrison and Mark Colbourne.

There are new leaders in the Second Division as Old Edwardians B took full advantage of another slip by Kingswinford Snooker Centre.

The Ball family – Steve and his sons Jack, Sam and Brett – put Old Eds 4-0 ahead at home to Kinver Const D before Tim Purslow wrapped it up.

Kingswinford SC faltered at home against Stourbridge Institute D, even though Steve Ballinger made it 19 wins from 19 for himself with a narrow success against Chris Crumpton. Tom Game and brothers Dominic and Dino Bacciocchi took the honours for the visitors. Paul Curry also won for Kingswinford.

Amblecote RBL B beat Bahia’s SC B 3-2 thanks to Mark Lees, Bill Crowther and Alex Bull, while the Legion’s A team won 3-2 at Amblecote Institute thanks to Billy Green, Ben Green and Steve Norton.

Wombourne avenged the narrowest possible cup defeat on the tables of Stourbridge Institute B by winning there 3-2, thanks to John Wooldridge, Dave Flavell and Colin Pirnie.