THE semi-finals of the cup competitions did not produce any surprise results.

In the Warburton Cup Premier Division Hilton Tameside giving nine points start to Second Division Hilton C ran out 5-1 winners to reach the final. Although most of the games recorded close scores, the class of the higher division team of Phil Biggs, Paul Collins and Jeff Craighill gave them their cutting edge, Pete Bladen winning the solitary Hilton set.

The Brian Gittins Cup for Premier and Division One teams produced two very different results. Ramsbottom A the current leaders of the Premier Division disposed of Chorley Old Road from Division One 8-1, while the holders of the cup, Wharton A, won a close match with fellow Premier team Cricketers 5-4.

Ramsbottom gave Chorley Old Road seven points start, and although some of the games were close with four sets decided on the third game the result was not in doubt.

The Cricketers Wharton match played off scratch was nip and tuck right to the end, and at four all Barry Elliot beat Derek Watmough in the final set to clinch the win, which included two wins apiece for Barry and Bob Jackson plus one by Glen Payne, Jim Chadwick trebled for the losers.

In the Ron Hindle Memorial Trophy, which this season is the competition for Division Four teams, both semi finals were played off scatch. Two wins apiece for Richard Reading and David Miller, and one by Richard Pullin gave Jubilee a 5-1 win over Meadow Hill C, Phil Yates winning the Meadow Hill set, and two wins for Colin Roberts and Mark Greenhalgh plus one by Dave Bevitt for Heaton F who beat YMCA 5-3 with Alan Weall winning two sets and John Swarsbrick one for YMCA.

The George Yates Trophy for Second and Third Division teams produced one semi final between two Third Division teams, Little Lever D against Ladybridge C.

This match which also started off scratch saw the Ladybridge side establish a early 4-0 advantage from which they ran out 6-2 winners. The win included a treble for John Birchall, two wins for Mike Smith, and one by Brian Greenhalgh, with Mark Martin and Bob Waller winning one set each for the losers.

Two results remain outstanding. The finals will be played at the Hilton Centre -- Warburton Cup and Brian Gittins Cup on Monday, April 7; George Yates and Ron Hindle on Wednesday, April 9, to start at 7.30pm on both nights.

In the Third Division both Meadow Hill A currently in top spot, and Hilton F in second place, recorded 6-3 wins, giving the Meadow Hill team a three point advantage at this time.

The leaders of Division Four Hilton J beat a depleted BEN B team 7-2 ,which gives them a 13 point advantage over Hilton I in second place who won 6-3, YMCA one point behind in third place also won by a 6-3 scoreline.

The closing date for the closed championships is Saturday, April 5. Entry form in the handbook.

RESULTS

Warburton Cup Semi Final: Hilton C 1 Hilton Tameside 5.

Brian Gittins Cup Semi Final: Ramsbottom A 8 Chorley Old Road 1; Cricketers 4 Wharton A 5.

George Yates Shield Semi Final: Little Lever D 2 Ladybridge C 6.

Ron Hindle Memorial Trophy Semi Final: Heaton F 5 YMCA 3 Jubilee 5 Markland Hill C 1.

Division One: Chorley Old Road 3 Hilton B 6; Mosses B 3 Wingates 6; Nomads A 8 Heaton A 1.

Division Two: Egerton Park 0 Heaton C 9; Rushtons 4 Heaton D 5.

Division Three: Markland Hill B 2 Markland Hill A 7; Ladybridge D 6 Markland Hill B 3; Farnworth 1 Heaton E 8; Ellesmere 4 Hilton H 5; Rammy D 3 Hilton F 6; Markland Hill A 6 Little Lever D 3; Hilton G 4 Ladybridge C 5; Hilton D 6 Hilton E 3; Hilton D 0 Hilton F 9.

Division Four: Ladybridge E 5 Heaton F 4; Ladybridge E 2 Jubilee 7; Heaton G 1 Hilton K 8; Jubilee 3 Hilton I 6; Hilton L 3 YMCA 6; Markland Hill C 3 Heaton G 6; Hilton J 7 BEN B 2.

PREMIER DIVISION

P W D L F A Pt

Ramsbttm A... 17 17 0 0 119 34 119

Hilton T'side... 19 14 0 5 115 56 115

Farn SC A... 17 15 0 2 108 45 108

Little Lever A... 18 10 0 8 88 74 88

Lostock... 18 9 0 9 79 83 79

Cricketers... 18 7 0 11 73 89 73

Hilton A... 18 7 0 11 72 90 72

Ramsbttm B... 17 7 0 10 70 83 70

Hor Hilton... 16 6 0 10 68 76 68

Wharton A... 16 3 0 13 45 99 45

Mosses A... 18 1 0 17 27 135 27

DIVISION ONE

Nomads A... 18 16 0 2 117 45 117

Carlton... 17 13 0 4 101 52 101

Little Lever B... 18 10 0 8 94 68 94

Ladybridge A... 18 11 0 7 82 80 82

Hilton B... 19 5 0 14 75 96 75

Wingates A... 17 9 0 8 72 81 72

Mosses B... 15 9 0 6 67 68 67

Heaton A... 18 6 0 12 67 95 67

Wharton B... 15 9 0 6 66 69 66

Chorley OR... 16 5 0 11 65 79 65

Heaton B... 17 1 0 16 40 113 40

DIVISION TWO

Little Lever C... 20 19 0 1 134 46 134

Heaton C... 20 14 0 6 116 64 116

BEN A... 20 14 0 6 112 68 112

Ramsbttm C... 19 14 0 5 111 60 111

Heaton D... 20 12 0 8 102 78 102

Halls... 20 9 0 11 89 91 89

Egerton Park... 20 8 0 12 78 102 78

Hilton C... 20 7 0 13 73 107 73

Nomads B... 19 6 0 13 70 101 70

Ladybrdg B... 20 5 0 15 68 112 68

Hall Meths... 20 6 0 14 60 120 60

Rushtons... 20 5 0 15 58 122 58

DIVISION THREE

Meadow Hill A... 24 21 0 3 154 62 154

Hilton F... 24 21 0 3 151 65 151

Ladybridge D... 24 19 0 5 143 73 143

Ramsbottom D... 22 15 0 7 112 86 112

Little Lever D... 22 12 0 10 110 88 110

Ladybridge C... 23 13 0 10 107 100 107

Hilton G... 24 10 0 14 107 109 107

Heaton E... 21 12 0 9 105 84 105

Hilton E... 22 12 0 10 100 98 100

Hilton D... 23 10 0 13 100 107 100

Meadow Hill B... 24 7 0 17 77 139 77

Hilton H... 23 6 0 17 76 131 76

Farn SC B... 23 3 0 20 66 141 66

Ellesmere A... 23 0 0 23 41 166 41

DIVISION FOUR

Hilton J... 19 18 0 1 128 43 128

Hilton I... 19 16 0 3 115 56 115

Bolton YMCA... 19 14 0 5 114 57 114

BEN B... 20 11 0 9 92 88 92

Ladybridge E... 18 12 0 6 91 71 91

Hilton K... 18 11 0 7 90 72 90

Heaton F... 16 10 0 6 83 61 83

Jubilee... 20 7 0 13 73 107 73

Mead Hill C... 21 6 0 15 73 116 73

Heaton G... 18 6 0 12 62 100 62

Hilton L... 20 1 0 19 58 122 58

Ladybridge F... 20 2 0 18 47 133 47