HUDDERSFIELD’S Yorkshire League snooker team have had a difficult start to the new season with three successive defeats, and just four points to show for their efforts.

Meltham Liberal Club’s Colin Hawkins made a surprise debut against Sheffield No2, and had an impressive 81-24 win in his first frame, while Andy Battye claimed a second point.

However, the same team were never in the follow-up game against Thorne, losing 6-0, before Battye and Jason McMahon each salvaged a frame apiece in the 4-2 reversal at Bradford.

The Billiards team beat Bradford 7-0 at Cullingworth Conservative Club, with Rob Armitage firing a top break of 70 as he blasted Nigel Stebbings in frame one.

Tony Clegg followed with a break of 45 in his win over Brian Watson, before Huddersfield’s Brian Cousen sealed the win with a 53 break over Trevor Kershaw.

There were two high-profile casualties in the opening round of the Huddersfield Open Snooker League’s Leonard Oldham Pairs competition.

Lower Hopton duo Matthew Bloxsome and Dean Poutney, who reached the semis last season, fell victim to Hillhouse & Birkby father and son pairing Kevin and Alex Hirst in this season’s preliminary round.

And another big name pairing falling to defeat were police team Mick Stocks and Richard Parr, who were beaten by Meltham’s Andy Battye and Paul Shaw.

Stocks had a break of 60 in the first frame, but it could not prevent his team bowing out.

Huddersfield Open Billiards champion Tony Clegg and Matthew Peaker are both playing for Yorkshire Seconds tomorrow in an Inter-County match at Nuneaton.