PREMIER Division top team Ramsbottom A have opened a nine-point lead over their nearest rivals Little Lever A and Ramsbottom B with a 7-2 win at St Catherine’s A.

Mick Moir scored three wins and Andy Jackson and Mark Ramsbottom two apiece, while John Hilton scored the two for St Catherine’s.

Little Lever ran out 7-2 winners at Burning Desire, with a Graham Jeffries treble and doubles by Ron Durose and Steve McNicholas, Lindsey Reynolds winning two for the losers.

But Ramsbottom B were soundly beaten 7-2 at Wharton, where Barry Elliott and Glen Payne were unbeaten. Hilton A scored maximum points at Little Lever B.

St Catherine’s B scored maximum points at Wingates to go top of Division One, one point ahead of Heaton A who beat two-player St Catherine’s C 8-1.

Paul Brandwood, Marc Townsend and Kristof Pinter were unbeaten for St Catherine’s, as were Steve Barber and Matt Ward for Heaton. Lee Davenport wining the consolation set for St Catherine’s.

Heaton C’s Dave Scowcroft scored three wins at Ramsbottom D where his team lost 6-3, as did Dave Andrews for Hilton B who were beaten by the same score at Ladybridge.

Hilton followed it up by winning a close match 5-4 at Meadow Bank, who then suffered a 9-0 defeat by Nomads A, which featured trebles by Dennis Collier, Derek Watmough and Clive Taylor.

Division Two leaders Nomads B were surprisingly beaten 6-3 by visitors Heaton D, while Coburg moved to second spot two points behind after their 8-1 win at Farnworth TT A.

Heaton’s win included three wins by John Scowcroft, two by Alan Ingerson and one by Alan Crompton. For Coburg, Bob Bent and Jimmy Hewitt were unbeaten, and Mark Speakman scored twice. Three wins by John Birchall and two by Brian Greenhalgh gave Ladybridge B a 5-4 win at Little Lever D.

Steven Ross was unbeaten for Hilton G who lost 5-4 at Heaton F. Chris Naylor, John Barker and Roger Bertrand each won two for Hilton C, who beat their D team 6-3, and, in a close match, BEN A ran out 5-4 winners against Meadow Hill A with three players winning two sets on the night.

BEN B retain top spot in Division Three after their 6-3 win at Meadow Hill B but, St Catherine’s D, in second place and with a match in hand, cut the gap to two points with an 8-1 victory over Hilton H. BEN’s Jim Bollard won three, Alan Hibbert two and Alan Calvert one. For St Catherine’s Stuart McCaig and Ben Dudley were unbeaten and Debbie Wilson added two.

Ladybridge C suffered two 6-3 defeats by Hilton F whose Gary Hibbert trebled, and St Paul’s Peel, whose Mick Murray and Martin Leach recorded three wins. Trebles by Matt Hood and David Yates gave Irlam their 6-3 win over Walkden Meths. Three wins by John Lawrence and two apiece by Jean Smart and Richard Reading resulted in a 7-2 victory for Hilton G against Farnworth SC.

Division Four leaders Hilton J scraped home 5-4 at Heaton G with two wins by Minh Le and Andrew Morey and one by John Parker, Phil Beales winning three for the losers.

Hilton I, one point adrift in second place, won 9-0 at St Catherine’s F, Malcolm Rose, Gordon Stone and Les Clough were all unbeaten. Farnworth TTC B’s Sam Evans, Daniel Harris and Katherine Oldfield scored maximum points at Hilton K.

Jez Grimwood’s three wins helped Boyzone win a close match with Lads Club A 5-4, Brass won their first match of the season 6-3 against Heaton H thanks to Eugene Mutebwa’s treble. San Thien two and Abdiwali Ali one.