PREMIER Division leaders Ramsbottom A suffered their second defeat of the season, going down 5-4 on their visit to Horwich Hilton A, but they remain favourably placed with a seven point lead and a match in hand over Farnworth.

John Hilton trebled, and Bill Russell won two sets for the Hilton team.

Darren Howarth trebled for Farnworth, who remain unbeaten after their 7-2 win at Cricketers, as did Graham Hoy and Keith Jackson for Ramsbottom B who won 8-1 at Lostock.

The two other matches produced a 5-4 scoreline. Joe Green trebled for Horwich Sports in their win against Wharton, and all six players were on the card in Ramsbottom C's win against Hilton. Little Lever remain in bottom position one point behind Horwich Sports with a match in hand.

The three teams in contention at the top of Division One all had convincing wins. Leaders Nomads A who scored maximum points against Wingates A are 12 points ahead at this time, but have played two matches more than the other two.

Little Lever in second place won 8-1 at Horwich Hilton C, which included trebles by Dale Ajeto and Paul Tatlock, and Mosses ran out 7-2 winners against Chorley Old Road, which included trebles by Ben Armstrong and Simon Charnley. Heaton B's 5-4 win against Horwich Hilton B moves them off the bottom spot in the table giving them a four point advantage over Horwich Hilton C.

Division Two leaders Wingates maintained their unbeaten record with a 6-3 win at Little Lever, Ian Lansdale scoring the three wins for the cricketers. Heaton C move into second spot following their 6-3 win against their D team, which included a treble by Matt Heap.

Peter Bladen trebled for Hilton B in their 7-2 win over Ladybridge B, and all six players scored in Black Dog's 5-4 win at Nomads. In the match between the two bottom teams Ladybridge C scored a 5-4 win over Meadow Hill B, but remain in bottom place five points adrift.

Halliwell Meths jump into second place in Division Three, two points behind leaders Halls who have a match in hand. The Halliwell team ran out 6-3 winners against Little Lever D, which included a treble by Ian Bateson.

Heaton E dropped to third place after losing 8-1 at Ladybridge E, trebles here for Dennis Hough and Richard Hinchcliffe. Sub John Birchall Snr trebled for Ladybridge D who beat Hilton E 7-2, and John Kofi trebled for bottom team Farnworth who went down 6-3 at Hilton D.

Division Four pace-setters Jubilee A ran out 8-1 winners against Hilton F, which gives them a one point advantage over Ramsbottom, who scored maximum points at YMCA, but the Rammy team have a match in hand. Trebles by Bhiku Patel and George Dawson for Jubilee, and Brian Ingham, Bryan Edwards and Jim Freely for Ramsbottom.

Fred Parker and Brian Lingwood scored trebles for Ladybridge F, who won 8-1 at Heaton F. Hilton H ran out 7-2 winners against a two man Heaton G, and all six players were on the card in the match which Memorial Road won 5-4 against BEN.

The two top teams in Division Five both won by a 8-1 scoreline.

Leaders Ellesmere A's win against Hilton J included trebles by Paul Jackson and Tony Markland, and Ron Ainsworth and George Laks both trebled for Hilton I in their win at Ellesmere C. These results give leaders Ellesmere a five point advantage but Hilton have played one match less. The other match also produced an 8- I scoreline, Ladybridge G beating Ellesmere B and included trebles by Andy Scully and Robin Llewellyn. This result leaves Ellesmere four points adrift at the bottom of the table.

Results: Premier Division -- H/Hilton A 5 Rams A 4; Cricketers 2 Farnworth 7; Lostock 1 Rams B 8; Horwich Sports 5 Wharton 4; Rams C 5 Hilton A 4; Little Lever A 7 Cricketers 2.

Division One -- Nomads 9 Wingates 0; H/Hilton C 1 Little Lever B 8; Mosses 7 Chorley Old Rd 2; Heaton B 5 H/Hilton B 4.

Division Two -- Little Lever C 3 Wingates 6; Heaton D 3 Heaton C 6; Hilton B 7 Ladybridge B 2; Nomads B 4 Black Dog 5; Ladybridge C 5 Meadow Hill A 4.

Division Three -- Little Lever E 5 Hilton C 4; Farnworth 5 Hilton E 4; Hilton D 6 Farnworth 3; Ladybridge E 8 Heaton E 1; Ladybridge D 7 Hilton E 2; Halliwell Meths 6 Little Lever 3.

Division Four -- Jubilee A 8 1 Hilton F 1; YMCA 0 Rams D 9; Heaton F 1 Ladybridge F 8; Hilton H 7 Heaton G 2; Memorial Road 4 BEN 5.

Division Five -- Ellesmere A 8 Hilton J 1; Ellesmere C 1 Hilton I 8; Ladybridge G 8 Ellesmere B 1.

Top Ten: Premier Division -- 23 M Moir, J Chadwick; 22 P Biggs; 19 A Jackson; 17 R Pennington; 16 M Ramsbottom, L Thornton; 15 S Stringer, D Howarth.

Division One -- 22 C Johnson; 18 S Williams; 17 J Bradbury, B Dobbins; 16 D Collier; 15 J Scowcroff, J Howarth; 14 R Costello, S Toland.

Division Two -- 21 G Lee, H Roberts, P Bladen; 20 A Denson; 19 M Audsley; 18 P Noden; 17 S Barber; 16 F Green, I Lansdale, M Jackson.

Division Three -- 23 I Bateson; 22 A Crompton; 16 D Lomax; 15 C Hall, M Willows, G Hall, R Hall, J Kofi; 14 G Roberts, M Smith, A Price.

Division Four -- 22 J Quinn; 21 B Patel; 20 K Chauhan; 19 R Hannant, G Dawson; 18 J Birchall Snr; 16 B Lomax, J Swarsbrick, S Roz.

Division Five -- 25 P Jackson; 20 G Ainsworth; 19 R Ainsworth, T Markland; 17 G Laks; 16 S Ross; 15 D Miller; 13 N Dunn, M Wilcock, G Wilkinson.