The South London & Kent Pool Alliance eleventh summer season started this week and it's the biggest yet with 27 teams spread over four divisions.

This season also saw our biggest influx of new teams for as long as I can remember and most got their debuts off to an amazing start.

In the newly created Tier Three division both Rising Sun and Orpington Sports Club won 3-0 in sets and 11-4 in frames, the former against Foots Cray Social Club and the latter played fellow debutants, Plumstead Radical Club.

Other new boys, Rose Inn had mixed fortunes against Crayford Social Club 2 winning the first two sets by 3 frames to 2 but they crumbled in the final set and Crayford took it, 5-0, giving Rose Inn the 2-1 victory in sets but Crayford got more frames, 9-6.

Crayford had Luke Matthews and Neil Mounger to thank for keeping them in the game and inspiring their final set whitewash, as they both won a frame in every set.

From new to old now as last season's Elite League champions looked to defend their title with a 3-0 & 9-6 triumph over Pickwick.

It was a closer game than the score suggests as each set was won by 3 frames to 2, leaving Pickwick unfortunate not to pick up a point.

Saying that Allan Formosa did his best to win a point by taking all three of his frames, a feat that Tony Halpin matched for Bellegrove and Paul Williams was also unbeaten with two frame wins.

The old O'Connors started life as Glenmore Arms B with a 2-1 & 8-7 win over Hotshots.

The first two sets were shared, with both teams winning one by 3 frames to 2 then Glenmore just edged the final set, winning it with a frame to spare.

Alex Dobbins won his only frame for Hotshots on his debut but Glenmore's Micky Clayton scored an unbeaten hat-trick.

It was a close affair at the Falconwood, where newly promoted Falconwood Social played the derby match against Falconwood Club.

The underdogs got off to the better start, as Elliot Giles, Steve Dixon and Paul Rowlinson all performed brilliant clearances to give Social a 3-1 lead and the first set.

Falconwood Club bucked themselves up and won nine of the next eleven frames for a 2-1 & 10-5 victory.

Alex Lawrence inspired his sides triumph by winning all three of his frames and he was backed up by Kieran Evans, who won two of his three frames on his return to the team.

Royal Oak Addicks played their first ever match in the SLKPA top division against stalwarts Eltham Terrace Club A and they soon realised that it would be a tough season, losing the first two sets, 4-1 Although they did slightly better in the last set, going down 3-2 making the overall score 3-0 & 11-4.

On his debut, Louis Wilbourne won his only frame for Eltham and Paul Shrimpton won both of his but Shane Hutley went one better with three out of three, which included a dish from a dry break to win the third set.

Despite winning the match, Eltham's thoughts were with their team mate, Steve Pearce who unfortunately fell ill during the match and paramedics were called.

He spent a couple of hours in hospital and recovered to an extent where he could be taken home.

Captain Ron Brown and the rest of the Eltham team would like to thank the Addicks for their patience and compassion and the other teams and individuals at the venue who helped out and showed their concerns.

All at the SLKPA are glad Steve has made such a speedy recovery, we hope that it continues and that he is back playing soon.

Tier Two is split into two divisions, East and West and Eltham Terrace Rovers, who have been relegated to Tier Two West, got off to a winning start.

Rovers top division experience showed as they won the first three frames but Greyhound Elite made sure they had a game on their hands by taking the next two frames.

Rovers held their nerve and took the second set by the same 3-2 score before winning the final set, 4-1, to give them a 3-0 & 10-5 overall victory.

Billy Russell was on form for the Greyhound, winning both his frames with Geoff Evans doing the same for Rovers.

Also winning 3-0 & 10-5 were Bellegrove Social Club, who took on Pickwick Academicals.

Chris Bracey won two of his three frames for the Academicals but Martin Luff went one better for Bellegrove with three frame wins.

Eltham Terrace Nuthouse faced an uphill battle against Fox & Hounds after three players pulled out one hour before kick off, leaving them with just four.

However they were so close to picking up a point in each set but it was not to be with Fox taking each set, 3-2 for a 3-0 & 9-6 victory.

Nuthouse can thank Zoe Healy for keeping them in the game after she won all three of her frames, while Alan Dolan and Clive Forrest did the same for Fox.

There were mixed fortunes for the two relegated teams, Crayford Social Club Rugrats and Eltham Terrace Rack Pack, that went into Tier Two East.

Crayford had a tough match against North Heath Social Club, eventually going down by 2 sets to 1 and 8 frames to 7.

Rack Pack didn't start too well against Bellegrove A, losing the first two sets, 3-2 but they picked themselves up and whitewashed the final set, 5-0.

This gave Bellegrove the victory, 2-1 in sets but they have to share the points with Rack Pack winning 9-6 in frames.

Tony Frost, Alex Thompson and Dan O'Rourke not only kept Rack Pack in the match but helped to kickstart the last set whitewash with their 2 out of 3 frame wins each.

Royal Oak sandwiched a 3-2 loss in the second set to Glenmore Arms 2 with 4-1 victories in the first and third set to give them a 2-1 & 10-5 win.

Oak Captain, Paul Clements was the player of the night with an unbeaten hat-trick.

For more information on the SLKPA including league tables visit our website at www.slkpa.com or contact our Secretary Paul Gafa on 07443 456662 with any queries.

The league are looking at potential sponsors, any interested parties can also contact Paul Gafa.