THE senior leagues summer programme had a mixed start.
Top Premier Division Men's teams raced away with last year's champs South College 'A' hammering newly promoted David Lloyd (Manchester) 'A' side.
The 8-1 scoreline however does not tell the whole story and the newcomers took four of their matches to the narrowest defeat possible. South College captain Stuart Holloway, playing with Lee Sharples, lost their only set.
Last year's Division One pretenders, Holcombe Brook S.C. 'A', started in tremendous form by annihilating Lostock 'A' with a comprehensive 8-1 score.
Poor Ellesmere 'A' had a difficult derby match against Tyldesley 'A' , going down 6-3.
New Division Two teams prospered in their opening games as Leigh C.C.'B' and C.C. Walmersley both won 5-4 against established teams. They go joint top with South College 'B' who had an excellent 7-2 win at Claremont.
Barrow Bridge 'A' go top of Division Three with a solid performance over newly promoted Lowton 'A'. Captain Duncan McDermott, playing with Bob Broughton set the pace winning two out of three.
Both teams promoted to Division Four suffered serious setbacks in their first matches. Elton Vale 'A' (formerly Bolton Road), outclassed Bolton C.C., winning 7.5-1.5, and Division Four stalwarts Markland Hill 'D' gave a sharp lesson to Barrow Bridge 'B'. The 'Hill's best couple, Morgan/Phillips, led the way by winning all three and enabling a good 6.5-2.5 win.
Still at their unstoppable best are Tyldesley 'B' who had a brilliant start to their Division Five season with a splendid 9-0 win over Walmer 'B'. New Division Five club Winton signalled their ability with an 8.5-.5 win over a lacklustre Holcombe Brook S.C. 'C'.
Guildhall go top in Division Six with a no-show result. Lostock 'C' showed their mettle by beating South College 'C' 7-2. New boys Chorley enjoyed a competent 5.5-3.5 win over Harwood C.C.
Knives cannot separate any of the Division Seven teams after one round while in Division Eight Holcombe Brook S.C. 'E' go to the top with a 6-3 win over new team Ellesmere 'C'.
In Junior Division Four Tyldesley 'B' has got off to a flyer by scoring nine or more points in each of the opening two matches.
Results
MEN
Division 1: South College 'A' 8, David Lloyd (Manchester) 'A' 1; Holcombe Brook S.C.'A' 8, Lostock 'A' 1; Markland Hill 'A' 3.5, Hawkshaw 'A' 5.5; Ellesmere 'A' 3, Tyldesley 'A' 6.
Division 2: Longsight Meths 'A' 4, C. C. Walmersley 5; Walmer 'A' 2.5, Leigh C.C.'A' 6.5; Claremont 2, South College 'B' 7; Leigh C.C.'B' 5, Bradshaw 'A' 4.
Division 3: Lostock 'B' 3.5, Holcombe Brook S.C.'B' 5.5; Hawkshaw 'B' 5, Markland Hill 'B' 4; Lowton 'A' 3, Barrow Bridge 'A' 6.
Division 4: Markland Hill 'C' 5, Ellesmere 'B' 4; Elton Vale S.C. 'A' 7.5, Bolton C.C. 1.5; David Lloyd (Manchester) 'B' 6.5, Longsight Meths 'B' 2.5; Barrow Bridge 'B' 2.5, Markland Hill 'D' 6.5.
Division 5: Bradshaw 'B' 2.5, Leigh C.C.'C' 6.5; Meadow Hill 0, Eagley 'A' 0; Holcombe Brook S.C.'C' 0.5, Winton 8.5; Tyldesley 'B' 9, Walmer 'B' 0.
Division 6: Guildhall 9, Astley & Tyldesley 0; Lostock 'D' 5, Walkers 'B' 4; South College 'C' 2, Lostock 'C' 7; Chorley 5.5, Harwood C.C. 3.5.
Division 7: Leigh C.C.'D' 5.5, Hawkshaw 'C' 3.5; Eagley 'B' 4, Elton Vale S.C. 'B' 5; Walmer 'C' 3.5, Lowton 'B' 5.5; Markland Hill 'E' 4, David Lloyd (Bolton) 5.
Division 8: Barrow Bridge 'C' 0, Holcombe Brook S.C.'D' 9; Bradshaw 'C' 0, Walmer 'D' 0; Holcombe Brook S.C.'E' 6, Ellesmere 'C' 3.
JUNIORS
Division 4: Tyldesley 'B' 9.5, Leigh C.C.'C' 2.5; Bradshaw 'B' 3, Tyldesley 'B' 9; David Lloyd (Manchester) 'B' 7.5, Bradshaw 'B' 4.5; St Josephs' 'A' 10, Lostock 'C' 2.
MIXED
Division 1: Markland Hill 'C' 39, Leigh 65; Markland Hill 'B' 27, Markland Hill 'A' 71; Vulcan 63, Longsight Meths 'A' 48; Holcombe Brook SC 'A' 52, Hawkshaw 'A' 49.
Division 2: Walmer 'A' 66, Bolton CC 43; Hawkshaw 'B' 66, Lostock 'A' 24; David Lloyd Mcr 'A' 72, Eagley 'A' 21; Bradshaw 'A' 67, Holcombe Brook SC 'B' 36.
Division 3: Longsight Meths 'B' 57, Markland Hill 'D' 42; Lostock 'B' 45, Next Generation (Chorley) 'A' 66; Barrow Bridge 'A' 64, Bradshaw 'B' 51; Walkers 72, David Lloyd (Manchester) 'B' 0.
Division 4: Lostock 'D' 65, Markland Hill 'E' 37.
Division 5: Markland Hill 'F' 42, Bolton School 'A' 69; Next Generation (Chorley) 'B' 65, Meadow Hill 40; Elton Vale 'A' 59, Walmer 'B' 59; Bolton School 'B' 67, Lostock 'E' 39.
Division 6: Holcombe Brook 'D' 71, Hawkshaw 'D' 29; Barrow Bridge 'B' 70, Leigh 'B' 27.
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