This week saw the commencement of the First Division with the 2018-19 season of the Ormskirk & District Amateur Snooker League.

The top Division contains just eleven teams for a shorter twenty match programme, and the merit league will also run alongside the usual proceedings with each team receiving a points handicap, first and second at the end of the season, as usual, will each receive a trophy.

This week saw Defending Champions Fleetwood Hesketh SSC (formerly Les Dodd SC & Southport Conservative Club), who are going for a magnificent seven Division One crowns successively, get off to a average start with a 3-3 stalemate with Maghull RBL B. The Maghull B lads will be thrilled with their excellent opening match performance as it was a very difficult fixture for them. The match also saw Fleetwood's Martin Brown in excellent early season form with a very nice break of 44 in his frame success.

Last year's Runners-up, Olympic BC B, kicked off in terrific fashion with a 6-0 whitewash of Scarisbrick NSC, to become early co-leaders. The Walton outfit will be looking to finally go that one step better this term and clinch that elusive, maiden First Division title. This match also saw Olympic B's Steve Evans Snr in fine nick with a very good break of 43 in his frame victory.

Also getting off to that 'perfect' start were Aughton Institute E who completely dominated their match with Rainford X SSC to record a 6-0 win to sit as co-leaders with their other two rivals. The Rainford boys were unlucky not to at least put one frame on the board as the final frame on the contest ended with a re-spotted black ball. The match also saw Aughton E's Robbie Wilson carry on where he left off last season being in terrific shape. He engineered a superb break of 50 in his frame win to grab the first 'Break of the Week' accolade and in this form I'm sure it won't be the last.

Robbie's break began with a steady opening red ball pot to gain pinpoint position on the pink ball. After dispatching that pink, and very quickly, Robbie proceeded to pot a further three reds, all with pinks, in that usual fluent style of his with excellent potting and position to reach twenty eight. After potting his next red ball, Robbie found himself really awkward on his intended colour so decided on a long yellow, off it's own spot, into the yellow pocket and coming back down the table to the remaining reds. Robbie played that shot to perfection, gaining pinpoint position on his next red. He then potted a further three reds, all with high valued colours, to reach the half-century mark. Unfortunately, Robbie's break ended on 50 after he just failed to pot a difficult red to continue this very fine contribution.

The other side to get off to a brilliant start were Lathom & Burscough RBL (formerly Stanley Club A) who demolished Olympic BC A 6-0 to also become early season co-leaders. The Burscough boys will certainly be looking to be back up near the top, were they belong, after a couple of disappointing campaigns.

The other match played this week, and certainly a mouth-watering opening week match, saw last season's Division One Merit League winners, Aughton Institute A clash with last term's Kenney Cup victors, Upholland Social. The very close affair didn't really materialise as the Aughton A outfit raced into a 4-0 lead but much credit must also go to the Upholland lads as they took the final two frames of the match to see Aughton Institute A gain a fine 4-2 away triumph.

Maghull RBL A sat out their free week this time around.

Other notable breaks this week were – N Farrington (Aughton Institute E) 37, C Hoare (Fleetwood Hesketh SSC) 35 & P Williams (Olympic BC B) 31.

Division 2

St Cuthberts are now sole leaders of the Second Division after a tremendous 6-0 demolition at the expense of Aughton Institute C to maintain their 100% start to proceedings, this result sees them hold a one point advantage over the next placed side at this very early stage of the season and I'm sure they will be looking for a rapid return to the top flight as they certainly have the players in their squad to do so.

Farmers Club also made it two victories out of two matches as this particular week they engineered a 4-2 home success over Stanley Club C although the Stanley C lads put up a bold showing as they were only able to field five players due to holiday commitments. This outcome sees the Ormskirk outfit sit in second spot that single point adrift of the pace-setters.

Stanley Club B sit in third position, just two points off top slot, after clashing with Skelmersdale Wardens A this time around and after a good battle saw a 3-3 stalemate reached at the end of the contest. The Burscough boys will be the most disappointed of the two sides as they held a 3-1 lead after the first four frames. The Skelmersdale A team lie in a very respectable fourth place in the league table. The match also saw Stanley B's Steve O'Hare in good early season nick with a nice break of 29 in his frame victory.

Aughton Institute B recorded their first win of the campaign after last week's opening defeat. This week they defeated Skelmersdale Wardens C 4-2 to move up into fifth in the league standings, four points off the pace. They will be looking to push on this term after near misses in recent campaigns.

The other match played this week saw last season's runaway Champions, Aughton Institute D go into battle with Skelmersdale Wardens B and after a close affair it saw both teams unable to be separated in a 3-3 draw although the Aughton D outfit did battle back from an early 2-0 deficit. This was the current Champions second successive draw to see them undefeated so far and both sides sit in sixth and seventh respectively in the league proceedings.