CARTER'S Arms kept up their challenge for pole position in the Horwich Sunday League Premier Division.

They won 5-1 at home to luckless Smithills in a keenly contested game with a hat-trick from Steve Hand plus a double strike from ace marksman Phil Hutchison with Riley scoring a consolation for Smithills.

This leaves Carters only two points behind AA Pineapple with two games in hand but Pineapple remain in pole position after winning 6-1 at home to basement side Horwich Vic with a hat trick from Roberts plus a brace for Yates and Liam Harrison making up their scores.

Also hot on Pineapple's heels are Bridge Inn who picked up maximum points in a 4-2 home victory over Breightmet with goals from Mulqueeny (2), Smith and Walker with Tomlinson (2) replying for Breightmet in a very close game.

In the First Division Howcroft continued their magnificent form making it eight wins from eight starts when they won 3-1 at home to Long Pull. But the win was not easy as they had to come back from 1-0 down when Taylor struck for Long Pull early in the game. On target for Howcroft were Danny Kirkman (2) and Ashworth. Third placed Walkden kept up their challenge on the leaders with a 4-2 home win over Fox/Stork with goals from Mark Lynch (2). A spectacular 20 yard chip from Chris Lynch plus a goal from Fisher with Williams and O'Brien replying for Fox/Stork.

Second placed North West BMW had an emphatic 12-1 away victory on their travels to local side Squirrel with hat tricks from Mercer and MacDonald. Further strikes coming by the way of a brace for bold Mulligan, Smith and Kipling. Also hitting the target against luckless Squirrel whose goal came from Danny Moss.

This win leads North West BMW within five points of leaders Howcroft. CARTERS Arms kept up their challenge for pole position in the Premier Division when they won 5-1 at home to luckless Smithills in a keenly contested game.

The man who sparked their win was hat-trick hero Steve Hand while ace marksman Phil Hutchison added a couple with Riley scoring a consolation for Smithills.

This left Carters only two points behind AA Pineapple with two games in hand but Pineapple remain in pole position after winning 6-1 at home to basement side Horwich Vic. They too had a hat-trick star in Roberts plus a brace for Yates and Liam Harrison making up their scores.

Also hot on Pineapple's heels are Bridge Inn who picked up maximum points in a 4-2 home victory over Breightmet with goals from Mulqueeny (2), Smith and Walker with Tomlinson (2) replying for Breightmet in a very close game.

In the First Division Howcroft continued their magnificent form making it eight wins from eight starts when they won 3-1 at home to Long Pull.

But the win was not easy as they had to come back from 1-0 down when Taylor struck for Long Pull early in the game. On target for Howcroft were Danny Kirkman (2) and Ashworth.

Third placed Walkden kept up their challenge on the leaders with a 4-2 home win over Fox and Stork with goals from Mark Lynch (2). A spectacular 20 yard chip from Chris Lynch plus a goal from Fisher with Williams and O'Brien replying for Fox and Stork.

Second placed North West BMW had an emphatic 12-1 away victory on their travels to local side Squirrel with hat tricks from Mercer and MacDonald. Further strikes came the way of a double for Mulligan, Smith and Kipling. Squirrel's goal came from Danny Moss.

This win leads North West BMW within five points of leaders Howcroft.