Skipper keeping league leaders grounded

Their resounding 160-118 win over West Bromwich saw them leap above Cheslyn Hay on shots difference with five matches gone.

Palin was delighted with his team's latest win but was keen to play down the significance of the achievement so early on into the season.

He said: "We are looking good, but we need to keep our heads down and see how it goes. Nobody was talking about going top on Monday after the game and it's a very difficult league.

"We have, perhaps, had a bit of an easy start overall and we have played more home games than away games so no one is getting carried away."

Colin Beaman got Monday's match off to the ideal start with a 21-17 win over Greg Smith and Glyn Picknell beat Rob Carter 21-16.

Peter Grimston lost 21-18 to Wayne Phillips, but Nigel Evans defeated Andy Saunders 21-13 to keep St Georges on course for victory at halfway.

Palin's 21-7 victory over Alan Bentley moved their score on significantly, before Mike Wainwright lost 21-16 to Mike Hill.

But Ian Gaut's 21-13 win over Chris Watts and Tony Rhodes's 21-10 victory against Rachel Bennett ensured a wide triumph for the hosts.

In Feeder B, Castlefields are up to third place following a 139-113 derby triumph at home to Wrockwardine Wood.

The visitors had started the night in third themselves but slipped a point behind their county neighbours, who took six of the eight games on offer.

The hosts had two single figure winners, skipper Callum Wraight and Glyn Herbert who beat Tony Garmson to nine and Joshua Cotton to eight respectively.

Hadley USC, fifth, are hot on their heels after a narrow victory at home to Willenhall Nordley Libs B.

The home side won five of the eight games but only edged the aggregate by two points, 151-149, to claim the spoils.

Highley Miners Welfare are third-from-bottom in division two after a 154-77 hammering at Ward End Cons.