THE second round of the Bolton League's Warburton Cup did not record any surprise results.
It would appear that the 11 up game has made it more difficult to produce handicaps which give the teams in the lower divisions a chance of knocking out more elevated teams.
This then results in eight Premier Division teams, which is half of the teams involved, going into the hat for the third round.
Only three of these wins produced close scorelines, Mosses A beating Little Lever D 5-4 after being 4-1 down, Ramsbottom A ran out 5-4 winners at Heaton A, and Nomads A knocked out Rammy C by the same scoreline.
Little Lever A scored a 9-0 win against Hilton J although seven of the sets were decided on the fifth game. Ramsbottom B only fielded two players in their 6-0 win at BEN B, Horwich Hilton scored a 6-3 win at Hilton G and Cricketers beat a two-man Hilton C 5-1 while Wharton A received a bye.
Two Division One teams recorded wins, Wharton B winning 6-3 at Meadow Hill B which included two wins each for the Wharton players. Jim Collier trebled for Meadow Hill. Mosses B scored a 9-0 win at Jubilee who received five points start.
Division Two team Rushtons, on three start, won a tight match with Ladybridge A 5-3. Hilton D, from the second division, went through on a walkover as did Farnworth from Division Three.
Two other Third Division teams are in the next round. Hilton F, on three start, won at Heaton D 6-3 and Bolton YMCA, receiving two points start, beat Ladybridge C 5-4.
Only one team from Division Four remain in the competition, Tonge Juniors beating a two-man Hilton I 6-3.
Third round draw (to be played week commencing January 19): Bolton YMCA v Cricketers, Hilton D v Ramsbottom A, Wharton A v Rushtons, Wharton B v Hilton F, Little Lever A v Ramsbottom B, Tonge TTC v Mosses A, Farnworth v Horwich Hilton, Mosses B v Nomads A.
Results: Warburton Cup: Mosses A 5 L Lever D 4, Heaton A 4 Rammy A 5, Nomads A 5 Rammy C 4, L Lever A 9 Hilton J 0, BEN B 0 Rammy B 6, Hilton G 3 H Hilton 6, Jubilee 0 Mosses B 9, M Hill B 3 Wharton B 6, Rushtons 5 Ladybridge A 3, Bolton YMCA 5 Ladybridge C 4, Heaton D 3 Hilton F 6, Tonge TTC 6 Hilton I 3, Wharton A bye, walk-overs Hilton D & Farnworth.
Premier Division: Wharton A 7 Hilton B 2.
Division One: YMCA 3 Heaton B 6.
Division Two: BEN A 4 Rushtons 5, Ladybridge B 3 Heaton C 6, L Lever D 9 Halliwell Meths 0.
Division Three: Hilton 12 Hilton E 7.
Division Four: Hilton J 9 Irlam 0.
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