FAR too close to call -- that was the nature of some of this season's first matches. Others, by contrast, offered rich pickings to the informed spread-better.

League champions Holcombe Brook A triumphed by a solitary game against a strong Walmersley side, in a match where no set was decided by more than a single game. Markland Hill A, lacking their regular ladies, lost narrowly to Walkers A, while Walkers B lost by a similar margin to Markland Hill C. In the latter match, as elsewhere, the ladies were prominent, Markland Hill well-served by Edith Conn a lady who offers an irresistible and alarming mix of determination and intelligence, returning balls with frustrating consistency and revealing an almost heretical thoughtfulness in her strategic switches of shot-direction. Partner Lindsay Thomas conformed more to the puff and pant Winter League ethos, whizzing round the court and belting the ball to good effect.

Newcomers to the league fared well. David Lloyd, lead by those women warriors Sarah Bleakley and Wendy Birchall, gave notice of their general ill-intent to others in beating a weakened Holcombe Brook. Ms Birchall's athletic movement and heavy hitting supplemented the easy, well-oiled court coverage and aggressive play of the Bleakley Express, while team-mates James Lever and John Smythe, each blessed with hefty forehand and service, gave more than adequate support. Across town, Chorley under the leadership of Martin Tattersall, also enjoyed a winning debut. Neck and neck with a Bolton School A fielding two of the League's most resolute break-your-heart grafters in Tony Walsh and Maggie Wilson, Chorley finally drew away in the last two sets.

Ladies also laid down a marker for the season's lowest score when Ilona Kilburn, Sue McClelland, Barbara Millington and Sue Prendergast took 30 minutes to complete four games of scintillating, white-knuckle tennis, which left the crowd -- or those who remained -- older in both years and outlook. A 4-0 win for the former pair helped Allsorts to a surprisingly easy win. The league's other promoted team, HRM B lost to Astley.

Those ageless males of Bolton CC, many of them legends on their own lifeline, shone. Jimmy Topping was in good form against Monton with his own brand of spider's-web play, but things looked bad when "The Sleeper" (of no ill-intent) failed to arrive. Who, however should come cavalry-galloping to the rescue than that Cricket Club Custer, Howard Wilkinson. A Hollywood ending was nonetheless denied them by Monton for whom Ian Lowe was in braising form, and for whom Mr and Mrs Jordan offered an entertaining display of mixed set harmony.