With 32 teams in the South London & Kent Pool Alliance, it meant that all teams were in action in the first round of the Founders Cup and there were no surprises in the results.

The game that had the biggest gap between the two teams came as bottom of Division Three, Large Lakhars hosted bottom of the Premier Division Foots Cray Bears, with 22 places between them.

Bears’ quality showed through against one of the newest teams in the league, as they whitewashed the match, 8-0.

Obviously, all their players were unbeaten, with Jeff Bailey and Dean James winning their only frame and Dave Jandu, Gary Mason and Shane Burnett all won both their frames.

The next biggest gap between teams was Hotshots in the Premier Division against Bexleyheath Raiders 18 places below them in the second division and the lower division side couldn’t make a team after the match was rearranged, handing Hotshots a free ride into the second round.

Second from bottom in the Premier Division, Royal Oak played second from bottom in the second division, Farmhouse but this match was much closer than the 16 places between the teams in the league.

Farmhouse had a fantastic start, with Nick Brown, Barrie Blake and John Denahy winning the first three frames however, John Cochrane and Phil Tworek won the last two frames of the first set to end it only, 3-2 behind.

Sam Kinsville transferred from Oak to Farmhouse at the beginning of this season and after losing the previous frame, he won this one to extend his new team’s lead to, 4-2.

The next two frames were shared, before Brown won the second set for Farmhouse and Tworek took the last frame of the set again, to make the score, 6-4 going into the final set.

Dave Pearce and Paul Clements brought Oak level, then Brown won his third frame of the night to nudge Farmhouse back into the lead and on the hill.

The penultimate frame went to Paul Williams to send the match into a final frame decider, which Tworek won for his hat-trick and to put Oak in the lead for the first and most important time, the end of the match.

Oak sneak through to round two by eight frames to seven, with Farmhouse finding themselves in the Silver Salver.

There were three other matches that went the distance, as White Hart beat Bell Ya Later to become the only team to beat a team from a higher division, Eltham Terrace Tigers pushed the Premier Division leaders, New Eltham New Stars all the way, as did Tigers sister side Eltham Terrace Rack Pack against the second placed team in the top division Sharks.

At the other end of the scale, there were no other whitewashes, but Falconwood Club from the top division did beat Division Two’s Sundridge Park Working Men’s Club, 8-1.

There was only six places and ten points between Pool Runnings and Academicals in Division One, but that didn’t stop Pool Runnings from running out, 8-2 victors.

Bellegrove Newbies went to experienced side Eltham Evolution and the Newbies started well, going 2-1 ahead however, they lost the first set, 3-2.

Evolution’s experience showed in the second set, whitewashing it to win the match, 8-2 and enter the draw for the second round, whilst sending Newbies into the Silver Salver.

Top of the first division, Bellegrove Flyers were drawn at home, but agreed to make the short trip to Plough & Harrow in Division Three so Bell Ya Later could play at home.

The first frame went to the lower division’s James McGuire, who laid a total of five snookers, before the balls were opened significantly to go for the successful clearance.

Ollie Powell looked to clear his six colours and the black, but a poor positional shot meant the black was missed and Mark Porter punished to level the scores before Mark Hill won a tough frame to nudge Flyers into the lead.

Flyers’ in-form players, Bobby Rogers and Steve Pearce ended the set with victories to put their team, 4-1 ahead.

Flyers stand-in Captain, Petrina Pearce was fortunate against Billy Tippett, after he unluckily made an out of turn three ball plant on the black to hand her the frame.

Flyers were, 5-1 up and Plough’s one, James McGuire completed an excellent eight ball clearance to make it Flyers five, McGuire two.

The dynamic duo of Pearce and Rogers came next, with Pearce completing a double over Lewis Mann however, Rogers fell to an amazing double on the black by Arthur McDougall, to join McGuire in the winner’s circle and pull Plough back to, 6-3.

Hill made it two out of two to put Flyers on the hill at, 7-3 going into the last set.

Flyers looked to Steve Pearce to close out the match and he didn’t disappoint, recording his hat-trick to give his team the, 8-3 victory.

Flyers sister side, Bellegrove also rustled up an, 8-3 triumph over fellow Premier Division team, Pickwick, making them the only top division team not in round two.

Two weeks ago Division Two’s Hurricanes Reborn narrowly lost to Sundridge Park Working Men’s Club in the league, but this week they played Sundridge Park Pocketeers from the Premier Division, and it wasn’t any better for them, going down, 8-3.

Bottom of the first division, New Eltham New Boys hadn’t won a game yet this season, but that all changed when they visited Angerstein from the bottom division however, it wasn’t plain sailing eventually winning, 8-6.

Also finishing, 8-6 was the match between Blackheath Sports Club and Cue-Ologists, with the first division’s Cue-Ologists triumphant to ensure there were no Division Two teams going into the second-round draw.

Division Three’s Average Joes were more than average, despite going down, 8-5 to Nolans, who were 12 places above them.

There were 14 places between The Con Men, ninth in Division One and fifth in the top division, Rugrats with the top team winning, 8-5 to secure their place in round two, sending The Con Men into the Silver Salver.

For more information on the SLKPA including league tables visit the website at www.slkpa.com or contact the 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.