There was an early shock in Division One as Brighton B recorded their first ever victory over their A team.
Brighton A went into the match as defending champions and with a perfect 10-0 record against the B’s, and they started the night well with Rob Hall winning the first leg. The A’s looked to pile on the pressure but both Stuart Carruthers and Alan Brackenridge won with the break against Jim Millward and Nigel Senior respectively.
They went further ahead with Michelle Baden winning against the break in the fourth leg, but despite Matt Knight narrowly winning the fifth leg, Bella Stoner made a superb break to secure the win for Brighton B in the next leg. Chris Tupper added a consolation leg at the end.
In the other game in Division One last season’s runners-up Tunbridge Well made a winning start at home to Redhill A. Pete Sainsbury won the first before Curt Driver won a crucial, and what proved decisive, leg against the break in the second.
The remaining legs all went with the break with Dave Jones (Red), Richard Corbould (TW), Dave Constable (Red), John Slee (Red) and Gerry Fitzjohn (TW) winning to give the hosts a 4-3 win.
In Division Two strong favourites for the title West Sussex got off to a fast start with a 5-2 home win against Worthing B. Daniel Wheal, Martin Cole, Chris Cox, Kevin Charlton and Barry Holt won for the hosts and James Whittle and Neil Higgins were successfully for the visitors.
The other two matches also ended in home wins with Mid Sussex beat last season’s Division Two champions Littlehampton 4-3 and Redhill B beat Lewes by the same scoreline.