WITH just four weeks of the League programme left to play, Bolton Table Tennis Premier Division leaders Ramsbottom A look set to retain their title after taking maximum points at Burning Desire A to leave them nine points ahead of Radcliffe Cricket Club, who beat Little Lever 5-4, with a match in hand.

Heaton B appear to be moving ahead of their A team in the chase to win the Division One title, but this could all change when the two teams meet in the penultimate match of the season. The B side scored a 7-2 win at Hilton C, with three wins by Steve Barber, while the A team went down 5-4 at Tonge B.

Only six points separate the top four teams in Division Two, with leaders Little Lever D, Hilton E, one point behind, Hilton D, who are a further four points adrift but have a match in hand, and Heaton E, all battling for top spot.

Only one point separates Hilton I and Heaton F at the top of the Third Division. Hilton I scored a 8-1 win at Walkden Meths with trebles by Craig Rushton and Gill Marsden, while Heaton overcame Ladybridge C with Eric Shaw and Dave Bevitt unbeaten.

Withins now look certain to win Division Four ahead of Tonge C. They both scored 9-0 wins, against Hilton H and Lads & Girls Club C respectively, giving the Withins team a five-point lead with a match in hand.

In the cup competitions, Wharton B lost to Tonge A 5-4 in the Warburton Cup, but scored a 5-1 win at Meadow Bank in the Brian Gittins Cup.

In the Warburton semi-final, Tonge are away to either Ramsbottom A or Little Lever A, and Wharton will play their A team in the Brian Gittins Cup semi-final.