The first honours of the 2016-2017 campaign were won this week as the Kenney Cup Final took place at Stanley Club on Wednesday 15th March 2017. The Final was contested between Aughton Institute C and Skelmersdale Wardens C, both from Division Two. The Skelmersdale C team received a fifteen point point start per frame and were looking to capture the Kenney Cup for the first time.

The first two frames were shared as, firstly, Aughton C's Dave Ball overcame Skelmersdale C's Darren Baker. Darren maintained his lead for a good part of the frame but Dave compiled a fine break of 30 to put himself fifteen points in front with five reds remaining. Dave led by ten points as the colours were reached but shortly after, potted the first five colours in two visits to clinch his frame and put his side 1-0 up.

Meanwhile, Skelmersdale C's John Gregson triumphed in his frame as he won his encounter with Aughton C's Steve Moss after a very tight battle on the final black. This saw the match delicately poised at 1-1. The third and four frames saw Aughton C take control as firstly, John Draper took to the table with Skelmersdale Wardens Tony Brown and it was John who play very solidly to win his frame after his opponent, Tony made a positive start but John came back at him and after potting the blue ball saw him lead by eighteen points. Shortly after, he potted the pink to seal the frame and put his team 2-1 up.

On the other table John Makin from Aughton C came up against Steve Braithwaite from the Skelmersdale Wardens outfit and this encounter saw Steve get off to a good start to extend his lead to twenty three points. John hit back with contributions of thirteen and fifteen points and continued to add to his score and led by thirty points as the brown was reached. Shortly after, John took blue and pink to put his team in a very strong position at 3-1.

The final two frames of the contest saw firstly, Aughton's Joe Noone go into battle with Skelmersdale C's captain Lee Berry and it saw a very solid performance from Lee, especially the latter part of the frame as he trailed by twelve points, as he won the frame quite comfortably and this saw his side half their deficit to 3-2. Meanwhile, the other clash saw Richard Laird, for the Aughton Institute side, come up against Jay Hornsby from the Skelmersdale outfit and it produced a fine performance from Jay as he easily won his frame to bring his side back to parity at 3-3 and now a nail-biting seventh and play-off frame was required.

The play-off frame saw Aughton C's Dave Ball come up against Tony Brown from the Skelmersdale Wardens team. The frame saw Tony shoot into a thirty three point advantage, aided by his fifteen point start, to hold a strong lead. Dave battled back with thirteen and reduced his deficit to twenty points. With the final red remaining, and Tony leading by nineteen points, Tony took that red, together with the black ball, to hold a twenty seven point advantage with the colours left. A short while after, Tony took yellow and green followed by brown and blue to seal a wonderful triumph for his Skelmersdale Wardens C outfit 4-3.

Both teams should be congratulated on a superb final! A very big well done to the Skelmersdale Wardens C team on their maiden cup success and commiserations to the Aughton Institute C side but congratulations to them on a fine cup competition display.

Division 1

Crosby Village SC returned to the top of the Division One table of the Ormskirk & District Amateur Snooker League. They recorded a 4-2 home triumph at the expense of Olympic BC and this result sees them lead by a single point from their nearest rival. The match saw Olympic's Brian Carroll in good nick with a nice break of 31 in his frame win.

Southport SC drop into second position in the standings after being held to a 3-3 stalemate with Rainford X SSC. They will be somewhat disappointed with the outcome but their task was made more difficult as they were only able to field four players with some key players missing. The Southport outfit sit that one point off the pace-setters but still have that all important match in hand over the leaders. The match saw Southport's Andy Booth in solid form with a nice break of 37 in his frame success.

Maghull RBL A ended their evening with another solid victory as this time around they beat Quarry Green TAC 4-2. This outcome sees them remain three points off top spot and continue to occupy third place in the league table. The match saw Maghull A's Mark Evans continue his excellent campaign with a nicely compiled break of 39 in his frame victory.

Aughton Institute E quickly got back to winning ways in no uncertain fashion as they demolished club compatriots, Aughton Institute A 6-0 to continue in fourth slot and close to eight points adrift of the side directly above them and also have a match in hand over them. This match also saw Aughton E's Richie Green capture this week's 'Break of the Week' prize with a well constructed break of 42 in his frame win. It began early in his frame when his opponent gave him a clear chance and Richie didn't disappoint. He potted his opening red and gained ideal position on the pink ball. Richie dispatched that pink and then proceeded to pot a further three reds, all with high valued colours, to reach twenty nine with excellent potting and precise positional play. Richie continued his fine effort with a further two reds, one with a blue and the other the pink ball, to reach forty two. Unfortunately, he missed a tricky next red to continue his fine contribution so ended his break on forty two.

Stanley Club A continue in fifth place after sealing their fourth consecutive win. This week they defeated Skelmersdale Wardens A 4-2 to lie four points clear of the team directly below them. They also progressed into second spot in the Division One Merit League table and could be a threat for the title during the final few weeks of the season.

Upholland Social ended their evening's play, were they came up against St. Cuthberts, with a 3-3 stalemate. This result sees them continue in sixth in the league proceedings with a match in hand over the side immediately above them and they are exceptionally well placed in the First Division Merit League table as they lead by six points with a match in hand.

The other match played this week saw Scarisbrick NSC record their first victory of the campaign with a solid 4-2 success over Maghull RBL B so they will be so delighted with their performance. The outcome wasn't enough to lift them off the foot of the table. Other notable breaks this week were – G Canning (Aughton Institute E) 39 & V Murphy (Olympic BC) 30.

The Division One merit table sees Upholland Social maintain top spot after their draw this week and increase their advantage to six points and an all important match in hand so are looking very well placed to capture the title, they lie on 112 points. In second position are now Stanley Club A after their solid win this time and sit those six points off the leaders, they are on 106 points. Rainford X SSC and Aughton Institute A now occupy joint third spot, after they both suffered defeat this week, although the Aughton A side do have a match in hand over two of their closest rivals, they both lie on 105 points.

Division 2

This week saw Stanley Club B record their fifteenth win of the current campaign to continue at the summit of the Second Division league table. They ended their evening's work with a hard fought 4-2 triumph at the expense of third placed,

Aughton Institute B but the result sees them have their lead cut again to six points but still lie in a very strong position with just five matches remaining of the campaign.

Aughton Institute D remain in second place, and in the second promotion slot, after their second successive 5-1 victory. This time around they beat Skelmersdale Wardens B by that scoreline to sit those six points off the pace although they have a cushion of four points, crucial at this stage, over the side directly below them.

Aughton Institute C put the disappointment of their Kenney Cup final defeat the previous evening well and truly behind them with an excellent 5-1 victory at the expense of Farmers Club. They continue in fourth slot just two points off the team directly above them.

The other match played this week saw Lathom & Burscough RBL defeat the triumphant Kenney Cup winning side from the previous night, Skelmersdale Wardens C 4-2. This result sees the Burscough outfit move up to sixth in the league standings.