RAMSBOTTOM A maintained their six-point lead over Premier Division title rivals, Hilton B, as both teams won 7-2.

The top men beat an under-strength third-placed Burning Desire A with three wins by Mark Ramsbottom and two by Mick Moir and Andy Jackson.

Mark Gibson and the new top ten leader, Ron Pennington, both won trebles in Hilton B’s victory over Ramsbottom B.

The clash between the two bottom teams resulted in a 5-4 win for Nomads A at Heaton A.

Both teams have the same number of points, 33, but are 16 adrift of Little Lever B. Heaton’s Paul Ward was unbeaten in the match.

Wharton won 8-1 at Tameside, as did Radcliffe CC against Little Lever B.

Barry Elliott and Glen Payne trebled for Wharton, as did Jim Chadwick and Nigel Hallows for the Radcliffe side.

Ramsbottom C maintained their six-point lead at the top of Division One with a 6-3 win at Withins A.

Burning Desire B, in second spot, also scored a 6-3 win at Heaton D. Terry Taylor was unbeaten for Ramsbottom, and Ben Armstrong for Burning Desire.

Dave Bolton trebled for Ladybridge A in their 6-3 victory over Nomads B. The three wins by Steve Barber for Heaton B proved decisive in their 5-4 win over their C team.

John Bradbury scored three wins for Wingates who lost 5-4 to Hilton D, and Hilton C won 5-4 against a two-man Little Lever C.

The race for top spot in Division Two is very competitive. Ramsbottom D have a one-point advantage over Meadow Bank following their 7-2 win against Hilton F, while Meadow Bank gained one point, beating Hilton E 8-1.

Mandy Winskill and Roger Whewell trebled for Ramsbottom, as did Paul Jackson and Richard Hinchcliffe for Meadow Bank.

Hilton Tigers, who are currently enjoying a six-match unbeaten run, jumped to sixth place in the table with a maximum points victory over Heaton F.

Meadow Hill A scored maximum points against Withins B, a Frank Green treble helped Heaton E to a 7-2 win over Farnworth A and John Dodd and Mike Heaton both won three for BEN A who beat Little Lever D 7-2.

With only four matches remaining, Coburg look unassailable at the top of Division Three following their comprehensive 9-0 win over their closest rivals Ladybridge B.

They now have an 11-point lead with a match in hand. Hilton G, in third spot, also produced a 9-0 victory over Meadow Hill B, as did Farnworth SC B over Ladybridge C.

Jean and Adam Smart were unbeaten for Hilton H who won 7-2 at Hilton I, as was Alan Hibbert for BEN B who won at Walkden Meths by the same score.

The St Paul’s Peel trio, David Waite, Keith Phillips and Rory McIntyre, scored maximum points against the Lads Club, which gives them a seven-point lead over Heaton H on the top of Division Four.

Heaton beat Brass 6-3 with their three players all winning two sets, Eugene Mutebwa winning three for the losers.

Heaton G beat Hilton K 5-4, and followed with a 5-4 win at Hilton J – Phil Beales unbeaten in both matches.

Ian Westmoreland scored his usual three for Farnworth SC C who beat Hilton K 5-4.

Three wins by David Yates and two apiece by Matt Hood and Neville Sing gave Irlam a 7-2 win at Hilton L, the improving Krishna Chauhan winning the two Hilton sets.

In the Brian Gittins Cup, Hilton B won 7-2 at Ladybridge A and will entertain Burning Desire A in the semi-final.

RESULTS

Premier Division: Ramsbottom A 7 B Desire A 2; Hilton B 7 Ramsbottom B 2; Nomads A 3 Radcliffe 6; Ramsbottom B 7 Radcliffe 2; Heaton A 4 Nomads A 5; Heaton A 2 L Lever A 7; Radcliffe 8 L Lever B 1; Tameside 1 Wharton 8.

Division One: Nomads B 3 Hilton C 6; Withins A 3 Ramsbottom C 6; Heaton D 3 B Desire B 6; Ladybridge A 6 Nomads B 3; Heaton C 4 Heaton B 5; Hilton C 5 L Lever C 4; Wingates 4 Hilton D 5.

Division Two: Heaton F 6 Heaton E 3; Ramsbottom D 7 Hilton F 2; Meadow Bank 8 Hilton E 1; Meadow Hill A 9 Withins B 0; Heaton E 7 Farnworth SC A 2; BEN A 7 L Lever D 2; Hilton Tigers 9 Heaton F 0.

Division Three: Hilton G 9 Meadow Hill B 0; Coburg 9 Ladybridge B 0; Hilton I 2 Hilton H 7; Farnworth SC B 9 Ladybridge C 0; Walkden Meths 2 BEN B 7.

Division Four: Heaton G 5 Hilton K 4; Heaton H 6 Brass 3; St Pauls 9 Lads Club 0; Hilton J 4 Heaton G 5 Farnworth SC C 5 Hilton K 4; Hilton L 2 Irlam 7.

Top Ten Premier Division: 44 R Pennington; 43 M Moir; 42 L Reynolds.

Division One: 44 G Young; 41 S Barber; P Brandwood.

Division Two: 38 M Martin; S Jones; 32 M Heaton; T Eardley; M Dunn.

Division Three: 47 B Bent; 45 J Hewitt; 40 B Greenhalgh; 36 T Fields.

Division Four: 42 I Westmoreland; 36 E Mutebwa; 35 A Meany.