It’s taken seven matches but finally Rugrats have won their first league match in the South London & Kent Pool Alliance Premier Division this season and what’s come as more of a shock is that it was against the unbeaten Hotshots.

Prior to this week there was eight places and 31 points between the two teams and the match looked to be going to form, as Hotshots took a, 3-1 lead but Rugrats won the next three frames to go, 4-3 up.

Rugrats went on to win the second set, 3-2 to tie the match at five all.

The first two frames of the final set were shared but Rugrats took the next two to secure the unexpected victory, before Hotshots won the last frame to make the overall score, 8-7.

Steve Krishnan was the only unbeaten player on the night, winning both his frames for Hotshots.

This victory puts Rugrats just one point behind New Eltham, as they were thrashed, 11-4 by Sharks, who are now ten points and three places above their opponents, after they picked up their third win of the season.

Hotshots first defeat allowed Allstars to pull away at the top of the table, as they remain unbeaten and keep up their record of scoring double figures in each match.

This week’s victims were Eltham Terrace Nuthouse and Allstars were ruthless, whitewashing the first set, 5-0.

Nuthouse pulled two frames back with Jon Syta and Zoe Healy but that was it for them, as Allstars went on to win all of the next eight frames for an overall, 13-2 triumph.

Allstars had three players ending on unbeaten hat-tricks, Ritchie Mitchell, Craig Mallinder and Jamie Simmons.

These results have made it very difficult for Hotshots to come back, as Allstars are now fourteen points clear at the top but the two do play each other in a couple of weeks, so we’ll see what happens there.

Hustlers have been in great form recently but they came up against a formidable Eltham Terrace Club A side this week, who ended up, 12-3 victors to leapfrog Hustlers and take third place by five points.

Mark Eldridge won both of his frames for Terrace but team mates Ben McIntosh and Dave Rawlinson both went one better with three out of three.

Eltham Terrace Rovers pile on the misery for Pickwick, as they beat them, 9-6 to go seven points ahead of them in the table.

Pickwick were 6-5 up but Rovers won the last four frames for the match and their third victory of the season, albeit fortuitous at times, after making pots while escaping from snookers.

Ryan Francis and Dean Rider were the inspiration behind the victory, both winning all three of their frames.

Allstars maybe fourteen points clear at the top but there are only seventeen points between third and eighth, so there is still an exciting season ahead.

Sitting at the top of SLKPA Division One were Crayford Arms but they suffered a setback this week, going down, 10-5 to Eltham Terrace Rack Pack.

Rack Pack got off to a great start, taking the first two frames but Crayford pegged them back to two all before Chris Parlett gave them the set, with an outrageous fluke on the black.

Crayford levelled the score with the first frame of the second set but Rack Pack won the next four on the bounce, to take a, 7-3 lead into the final set.

The first two frames of the last set went to Crayford, staging a mini-comeback but Tony Frost secured the win for Rack Pack and they went on to take the last two frames to complete the unexpected victory.

Ernie Wellhausen scored a hat-trick for the second week in a row and Rack Pack’s Captain, Steve Unwin was also unbeaten with two frame wins.

Crayford’s loss gave Rose Inn the chance to close the gap and they took the opportunity with both hands.

However, they didn’t have it all their own way against Academicals, who took the first set, 3-2 but Rose Inn fought back and won the second set by the same score.

The scores were level going in to the final set but Rose Inn were determined and took it by, 4 frames to 1, for an overall, 9-6 triumph.

Lee O’Brien scored a brace for the victors but team mate Jack Wilson went one better with three out of three.

This result meant that Rose Inn join Crayford on 63 points and they can’t be separated any other way either, so they are currently joint top.

There was mixed fortunes for the two Bellegrove sides in this division, falling on opposite sides of, 8-7 score lines.

Fox and Hounds won the first two frames against Bellegrove A but Bellegrove battled back and took the next five frames on the spin.

Bellegrove had a, 6-4 lead going into the final set, after taking the first two sets, 3-2 and the last set swung one way then the other, with Fox & Hounds eventually taking it by the same score but it wasn’t enough to stop Bellegrove running out, 8-7 winners.

Eddie Rukuiza won his only frame for Bellegrove but team mate Dan Brown went one better with an unbeaten brace.

Just Bellegrove are one point ahead of their neighbours, despite losing, 8-7 to New Eltham Club.

Jamie Phillips helped New Eltham return to winning ways, with an impressive hat-trick and he was supported by Jeff Bailey and Graham Levingbird, each scoring two out of three.

The top two teams are thirteen points ahead of the next two but it is tight at the bottom with just four points separating the bottom four.

Bexleyheath Working Mans Club are running away with the second division, as this week’s, 10-5 victory over New Eltham New Boys gives them a 26 point lead at the top of the table.

Real Hustlers have hit bottom spot, after Lord Kitchener pulled out of the league and they lost, 9-6 in their derby match with Happy Hustlers.

Bexleyheath may be way out in front but there is only fifteen points between the rest of the division, so all to play for.

For more information on the SLKPA including league tables visit our website at www.slkpa.com or contact our Secretary, Paul Gafa on 07443 456662 or secretary@slkpa.com with any queries.

The league is looking at potential sponsors; any interested parties can also contact Paul Gafa.