DARREN Howarth's three wins and two from Dave Griffiths, gave Tonge A a 5-4 win at Little Lever which increased their lead to seven points on the top of the Bolton Table Tennis League Premier Division over Ramsbottom A who had a free week.

Lostock regain third place following their 7-2 win against Nomads, with Steve Stringer winning three sets.

Hilton A scored a comprehensive 7-2 win on their visit to Horwich Hilton which included three wins by Mark Gibson, and Phil Biggs trebled for Hilton Tameside who went down 5-4 at Radcliffe CC.

Ladybridge A move to the top of Division One on the strength of their 8-1 defeat of bottom of the table YMCA, three wins apiece here by Dave Bolton and George Simpson.

Little Lever C who drop to second, scraped home 5-4 against their B team for whom Roy Costello was undefeated.

Heaton B who are now in third place ran out 6-3 winners against Wingates, which included three wins by Steve Barber. Kim Barnard and Duncan Hadfield both scored three wins but their teams, Burning Desire B and Wharton B, lost 5-4 to Ramsbottom B and Heaton A respectively.

In the match between the top two teams in Division Two, Heaton C in second scraped home 5-4 on their visit to Hilton C, the win was clinched on the last set of the night by John Kauffman who also scored a decisive treble.

Meadow Hill A, in third spot, also went down 5-4 at Little Lever, for whom Mark Martin trebled and Brian Hardman added the other two wins.

Alan Crompton trebled for Heaton E who beat their D team 6-3, as did Ian Wheeldon for Hilton D, who beat Nomads B by the same scoreline.

Ellesmere A have a seven-point lead at the top of the Third Division on the strength of their 8-1 win against Hilton G.

Hilton H, who move to second place, scored an emphatic 7-2 win against bottom team Ellesmere B, the win included a treble by Alan Bradshaw.

John Kofi trebled for Farnworth who beat the team in third spot Ladybridge B 6-3, Hilton F beat Walkden Meths 5-4 thanks to three wins by Gill Marsden, and Hilton I won the match with Meadow Hill by the same scoreline.