EAST LANCASHIRE teams dominated the North West small table snooker championship last season, Punch Hotel (Darwen) beating Alexandra SC (Nelson) in the final.

And they hold a strong hand again this year with Punch determined to win the title again and Alexandra equally determined to go one better.

The Alex have been in good form in the Nelson small table league this season but they have fallen behind the young squad from Colne Snooker Club who will be making a confident debut in the "Ted Reds" this time.

Says skipper Peter Doyle: "We're young. We're keen. And we reckon the Ten Reds will give us a lot of good experience."

Keith Ormerod jr of the Alex reckons they should go well again. "We're having a good season in the league and we'll be going into the county competition with a good team and bags of confidence."

Unbeaten Feniscowles SC are heading the Blackburn with Darwen League as the half-way stage of the season nears. They have a tricky away match against Falcon (Poulton).

Feniscowles beat Punch in the league last week but Punch skipper Dave Houghton says: "It'll be different if we meet up in the county competition. We've enjoyed a great run in the event in recent years and I'm sure we can win it again."

Handicapper Harold Heys who launched the tournament in 1974 under the North West B&S Committee banner, says: "It's a hopeless job trying to form a limited handicap from playeres across the county, but I don't think we are a long way out."

First Round: Layton No 1 (Blackpool) v Padiham WMC (winners at home in Second Round to winners of) Highfield No 1 (Blackpool) v Hotels & Apartments BM (Blackpool), Abinger Street (Burnley) v Cherry Tree CC (Blackburn), Bispham Con v Nelson Poultry, Colne Snooker Club v Talbot Cons (Blackpool), Riley's (Blackburn) v Stanley Ward Cons (Blackpool), Highfield No 2 (Blackpool) v Star Cycling (Nelson), Fox & Hounds (Blackburn) v Hotels & Apartments WB (Blackpool), Punch (Darwen) v Exelsior (Blackpool), Layton No 2 v Alexandra SC (Nelson), Falcon (Poulton) v Feniscowles SC (Blackburn), Ighten Leigh No 2 (Burnley) v Royal (Cleveleys).

Byes to Second Round: Ighten Leigh No 1 (Burnley) v Hoddlesden Cons (Darwen), Royal British Legion (Clitheroe) v West View (Blackburn).