JOHN Bonney's Smiling Assassins were once again crowned champions in the Sunday Evening Premier Division this week after they brushed aside Shooting Stars.

Even before the final whistle, the Assassins were beginning to celebrate yet another league championship in the bag, while their opposition were contemplating life in the 1st Division.

The Assassins must now fancy their chances in the Champions competition, which begins in the New Year, to prove that they are up there with the best of the best from all the leagues at Premier Fives.

White Wonders were looking to keep their winning streak going when they met The Lion of Vienna in the Monday 1st Division. Manager Simon Yates pulled off a string of great saves to keep Lion of Vienna's goal tally down to just three, while some intricate pass and move play from Craig Vickers and poor defending from their opposition allowed White Wonders to put nine goals on the scoreboard and stay three points clear at the top of the league.

In the Worthington's Tuesday 3rd Division, Ardwicks dropped their first points of the season despite a Man of the Match performance by Gavin Sanderson. After winning promotion as champions last season, Ardwicks, had continued in their rich vein of form to climb to the top of the division. A hard-fought 13-13 draw with Fatzio meant that Athletico Allstars and the Unprofessionals closed the gap to just one point. The league couldn't be closer, with only three points separating the promotion and relegation zones.

Gary Flintoff's Tower FM came close to causing the upset of the season so far in the Premier Fives/Chamber Business League on Wednesday evening. EBM Builders Merchants have so far been too much for any other team in the league and Dave Turner's side have set out their stall as title favourites as we reach the halfway point in the season.

It was a close match that ebbed and flowed with chances being well taken at both ends. At the end of the 50 minutes Tower were left holding their heads in their hands after allowing EBM to sneak in front and win 13-12.

With new leagues starting at Premier Fives in the next few weeks, any teams who are not currently on the waiting list and would like to join should contact Premier Fives as soon as possible on (01204) 525333.