PREMIER Division leaders Ramsbottom A scraped home 5-4 in a thriller with Hilton Tameside.

Six sets were decided in the fifth game with Ramsbottom winning the last set of the night to clinch the victory over the team in fourth place.

Hilton B replace Wharton in second spot after winning 5-4 at Tameside and 6-3 against a two-man Radcliffe team.

Wharton continued their good run with a 7-2 win at Nomads A, Glen Payne their unbeaten player.

Little Lever A scored a 6-3 victory over Ramsbottom B with trebles by Ron Durose and Graham Jeffries followed by a 5-4 win in a close match with Hilton A.

Little Lever’s 7-2 success at Heaton A included a treble by David Poytress and John Hutchinson.

The Division One leaders are now Burning Desire B with a one-point advantage after an 8-1 win at Heaton B, while Ramsbottom C drop to second place despite beating Nomads B 6-3.

Kevin Chapman and Ian Quinn were both unbeaten for Burning Desire, as was Graham Young for Ramsbottom.

Craig Bradbury trebled for Ladybridge who beat Little Lever C 6-3, as did John Bradbury for Wingates who lost 5-4 to Hilton C.

Stuart Wallis and Paul Brandwood both trebled for Withins in a 6-3 win at Heaton D, and Duncan Kay and Dave Scowcroft were both unbeaten for Heaton C who beat Hilton D 6-3.

Meadow Bank scored a 7-2 victory over Hilton Tigers to increase their lead at the top of Division Two to nine points.

Withins B, in second spot, ran out 6-3 winners over Little Lever D after beating Meadow Hill A by the same score.

Paul Jackson and Paul Whyatt were unbeaten for Meadow Bank as was Debbie Wilson for Withins in the first match.

Both Hilton E’s Tony Eardley and Iain Lindley of Farnworth SC A scored three wins but their teams were beaten 5-4 by Meadow Hill and Hilton F respectively.

Paul McCormick was unbeaten for Heaton E in their 6-3 win at BEN A.

While only five points separate the two top teams Ladybridge B and Coburg in Division Three, Hilton G are now 25 points adrift in third place.

Ladybridge took maximum points at Withins C, scored by their regular three players Brian Grenhalgh, John Birchall and John Cole. Coburg beat Hilton G 7-2 with three wins by Bob Bent and Jim Hewitt and one by George Mather. Brian Young and Tim Fields winning one apiece for Hilton.

Harvey Tench was unbeaten for Meadow Hill B who went down 6-3 at Hilton I and four players won two in the match which Farnworth SC B beat Walkden Meths 6-3.

Division Four top team Heaton H maintained their unbeaten record with an 8-1 success at Hilton L.

The victory featured trebles by Alex Meaney and Jonathan Clough and two wins by Martin Hulton, Krishna Chauhan winning the Hilton set.

St Paul’s Peel, in second spot, beat Hilton K 7-2 with three wins by Rory McIntyre and David Waite plus one by Rhys McIntyre. John Parker and Norman Steedman winning one apiece for Hilton.

A treble by Ian Westmoreland and a brace from Krishna Hooton gave Farnworth SC C a 5-4 victory over Hilton. Gordon Stone won two and Les Clough and Malcolm Rose one each for the losers. Heaton G won 7-2 at the Lads & Girls Club with trebles by Colin Roberts and George Laks and one win by Dave Jones.

John Taylor and Chris Ahmed won one each for the Lads Club.