REJOICE! Rejoice! First wins for Harwood (but little rejoicing for Markland Hill B who lost yet another match by a single game) and for Walkers B.

Harwood's was an all for one performance, even if the men's win by Steve Horridge and Martin Venn technically sealed victory. For Markland Hill, the headily effervescent, combustible cocktail of Kevin Halliwell and Jo Crompton won both mixed sets.

Walkers B owed victory to a valuable effort from the Sweet twins, and to a fine debut performance by recent transfer deadline signing Simon Jones, a clandestine deal completed behind the joint support counter of a town centre chemist. Jones mobility, elegant backhand, good use of angles and effective net play suggested that Walkers record fee is well worth it.

Division Three continues to be dominated by Chorley and David Lloyd, each retaining an unbeaten record ... just.

Against Bolton School A, David Lloyd looked initially vulnerable, Sarah Bleakley and John Smythe nervy and brittle as early games slid away in the face of Duncan Kyle's swashbuckling, go-for-broke style and partner Janet Connor's somewhat subtler skills. On the other court, Lindsay Thomas spider's-web busy work rate complemented Terry Booth's ominous tolling of the score as they profited against an unsettled Jim Lever, unresponsive to Wendy Birchall's soothing influence.

Chorley were indebted to some gutsy play by Carol Wright partnering Joachim Langfield.

Performance of the week though came in the Markland Hill A/Walmersley A clash. Firstly a ladies set of overall high quality mix of skills and giggles (Carolyn Pyatt and Vicky Judge to the giggle fore!) which contained probably the finest ladies rally in the mist-shrouded history of The Green, a climactic, lengthy extravaganza of lung-testing movement, fineshot-making and noisy enjoyment in which Lisa Morley and Mandy Winskill played a full part.

Elsewhere, Walmersley's Dave Gerrard gave a near-flawless display, ghosting round the court, always time in hand, a destructive smash and dealing effortlessly with problems thrown at him, not least by net trimming low volleys off some scything returns by Steve Pyatt.

Pyatt was himself in high form, serving well, penetrative off the ground, always testing the opposition and mainly in control of his game -- the result perhaps of big sister's presence? (I'll tell, Father).

Results

Division One -- Bolton CC 28 Allsorts 27; Longsight 40 Walkers C 18; Walmersley A 31 Markland Hill A 24.

Division Two -- Astley 39 Winter Hill 18; HRM A 25 Bradshaw 23; Harwood 26 Markland Hill B 25; MGB 48 Eagley 12.

Division Three -- Dorion Lloyd 26 Bolton School A 20; Walkers B 27 Egerton 17; Chorley 33 Bolton School B 27.