THE Labour Club upset reigning champions Groves in week one of the 2012-13 Ellesmere Port Winter League.

Alan Page’s team triumphed 2-1 in Lookers Vauxhall Division One.

In a very close encounter, Steve Procter beat Neil Rimmer to give The Groves a great start. But in reply Labour’s Garth Anderson convincingly dispatched Steve Holmes.

The next four games were shared, with Groves captain Kevin Maxwell very unlucky to go in off on the black against Jason Nalder.

Labour captain Page struck the decisive blow against Paul Hughes to draw the match 3-3 in games, but giving Labour the decisive aggregate points total.

Summer League and Cup winners Conservative B secured two points away to LS Legion A in a spirited performance by the home side.

Jack Nixon, Conservative B’s new signing, marked his debut in fine style in beating the experienced Colin Hughes by 71 points, closely followed by Singles runner-up Alan Platt beating Legion’s star man Matt O’Donoghue.

Cons B looked to be well on their way to three points until veteran Derek Friday beat last season’s player of the year Dave Sharpes in a thrilling black ball game.

Legion made it 2-2 when captain Mike Snelgrove beat Ellesmere Port champion Colin Jones on the pink.

G Barker beat Brian Reynolds before Conservative Club’s own veteran, Vic Sharpes, secured the two points for the visitors with a fine win over Mark Urmston.

Summer League runners up Conservative A got their season off to a flyer with a comprehensive 6-0 victory against a weakened Legion C side.

Conservative A captain Carl Brown welcomed back Gareth Edwards after a season out, which should make them even stronger for the new campaign.

At Vauxhall’s, Alastair Engle’s team beat Whitby in a scrappy encounter.