The final weeks for the Mixed League tennis season is proving difficult for some clubs with many of their top players absent due to holidays. This makes the situation tenser in some cases with crucial points at stake. Nearing the end of the season, unlucky week 13 ushered in some appalling weather conditions for the Tuesday and less than half the matches were completed, deferring to the following Thursday to finish the fixtures.

In Division 1, the seemingly indestructible force of Holcombe Brook 'A' soldiered on for yet another win, the victims this time being Leigh Cricket Club, final score 64 - 45. With only one week left to play, their performance this season has been exceptional and their bid for the Division 1 title is all but complete. The battle for second position is perhaps more exiting with both Markland Hill 'A' and Hawkshaw 'A' both winning their respective matches to place them on equal points and joint second place. Possibly only game difference will separate these two clubs in the final match on August 14th.

No notable changes in Divisions 3 and 4 with leaders Longsight Methodist 'A' inflicting a cheerful and sporting defeat over their 'B' team to keep them in top position with 24 points. In contrast, Division 4 leaders, David Lloyd 'A' remain in front with a rather uncomfortable and difficult match with third-placed Guildhall which finished 59-46 to Guildhall.

Divisions 5 and 6 current leaders Harwood Christ Church and Bolton School 'B ' both enjoyed wins to keep them firmly at the head of their respective Divisions. Harwood now finish the season with on open date in the final week. With 22 points and a clear 6 point lead over second placed Lostock 'D' , they can comfortably assume to have won the Divisional Cup for this year. In Division 6, newcomers Bolton School 'B' and second-place Markland Hill 'F ' both need vital wins in the final week to secure their positions. With Bolton School awarded a penalty point in week 12, it leaves only one point dividing these two teams.

Final tables and results along with full match reports will be published soon after the last matches of the season on August 14th. The annual dance and presentation of trophies will be held at Rivington Hall Barn on Friday 31st August.

The Cecil Cup semi-final played on Sunday 29th July was a stolid affair with most competing clubs finding it difficult to field their usual teams due to holiday arrangements. However, this inadvertently allowed an unexpected win for Holcombe Brook 'D' over last years runners up Bradshaw 'A'; with a handicap start of 53 games and some good tennis to boot, they clinched their final place with a 100 games to 59 victory. The other semi-final between Longsight Methodists' 'A' and Markland Hill 'A' had the makings of a close contest. With Longsight playing their best league tennis for some time and with a handicap head start of 29 games, it appeared that they had a real chance. Once again, absent players made it difficult and despite some valiant tennis from Longsight, they went down 54 games to 72 as Markland Hill clinched the deal for the final place against Division 6 Holcombe Brook 'D'.

On Sunday August 12th on a very wet and rainy day, the Cecil Cup final of the BSF Mixed Tennis League was completed. Last year's winners, Markland Hill 'A' faced Division 6 Holcombe Brook 'D'. It is now some seventeen years since Holcombe Brook's fourth team won this prestigious trophy and with a reasonable handicap of 63 games start, they were definitely looking to lift it again. Although scheduled for the Bolton School venue, the shale courts were virtually unplayable and Lostock Tennis Club very kindly offered their venue at short notice.

In pouring rain, both teams battled hard against the playing conditions as the courts and match balls became sodden. Holcombe battled for points, but could only muster five games in the entire match bringing their final score to 68, just six games short of victory. Markland Hill won the cup once again with 12 sets and 72 games.

Chairman of the BSF Tennis League, Raymond Marks presented the cup following the match and gave special thanks to both teams for competing in such difficult conditions.

Mixed League Results, Week 13, Tuesday 7th August 2001 Division 1: Holcombe Brook A 64, Leigh CC A 45; Hawkshaw A 62, Vulcan 23; Markland Hill B 71, Bolton CC 35; Lostock A 38, Markland Hill A 71. Division 2: Longsight Meths A 64, Longsight Meths B 41; Eagley A 55, Lostock B 50; Walmer A 51, Hawkshaw B 61; Bradshaw A 55, Markland Hill C 61. Division 3: Holcombe Brook C 26, Holcombe Brook B 71; Hawkshaw C 60, Bradshaw B 33; David Lloyd (Mc) B 45, Halliwell Road Meths A 58; Guildhall 59, David Lloyd (Mc) A 46.

Division 4: CC Walmersley 62, Meadow Hill A 48; Walkers 70, Bolton Road SC 23; Lostock C 57, Markland Hill E 58.

Division 5: Harwood CC 54, Bolton School A 37; Eagley 0, Meadow Hill 72; Halliwell Road Meths B 31, Lostock D 59; Harwood CC 60, Eagley B 40; Bolton School A 60, Walmer B 49.

Division 6: Leigh CC B 70, Holcombe Brook SC D 26; Walmer C 36, Bolton School B 70; Markland Hill F 72, Hawkshaw D 24.

BSF MEN'S Tennis League Results for matches played to 6 August 2001 Division 1: South College 'A' 7, Stand 2; Tyldesley 'A' 1.5, Hawkshaw 'A' 7.5; Leigh C.C.'A' 3.5, Lostock 'A' 5.5. Division 2: Ellesmere 'A' 0, Longsight Meths 'A' 0; Walmer 'A' 4, South College 'B' 1; Bradshaw 'A' 7.5, Claremont 1.5; David Lloyd (Manch'r) 8.5, Holcombe Brook S.C.'B' 0.5.

Division 3: Markland Hill 'B' 4.5, Leigh C.C.'B' 4.5; Lostock 'B' 2, C. C. Walmersley 7; Hawkshaw 'B' 2, Markland Hill 'C' 0; David Lloyd (Bolton) 1.5, Halliwell Road Meths 'A' 7.5.

Division 4: Walkers 'A' 0, Ellesmere 'B' 0; Longsight Meths 'B' 6.5, Eagley 'A' 2.5; Markland Hill 'D' 8, Bradshaw 'B' 1; Lowton 'A' 7, Bolton Road S.C. 'A' 2.

Division 5: Holcombe Brook S.C.'C' 1.5, Meadow Hill 'A' 0.5; Leigh C.C.'C' 2.5, Lostock 'C' 6.5; Guildhall 0, Bolton C.C. 0; Halliwell Road Meths 'B' 1, Walmer 'B' 0.

Division 6: Astley & Tyldesley 0, South College 'C' 0; Harwood C.C. 0, Leigh C.C.'D' 0; Hawkshaw 'C' 0, Tyldesley 'B' 4; Lostock 'D' 2, Walkers 'B' 1. Division 7: Meadow Hill 'B' 1, Walmer 'C' 1; Holcombe Brook S.C.'D' 4, Meadow Hill 'B' 5; Bolton Road S.C. 'B' 4, Chorley T.C. 5; Eagley 'B' 0, Holcombe Brook S.C.'D' 0.

Division 8: Markland Hill 'E' 9, Hawkshaw 'D' 0; Halliwell Road Meths 'C' 0, Bradshaw 'C' 0.

BSF JUNIOR Tennis League Results for matches played to Saturday 4 August 2001

Division 1: Lostock 'A' 5, Leigh C.C.'A' 7; Ellesmere 'A' 0, Markland Hill 'A' 12; Walmer 1, Hawkshaw 'A' 11.

Division 2: Hawkshaw 'B' 4, Lostock 'B' 8; Markland Hill 'B' 12, Hawkshaw 'C' 0; Leigh C.C.'B' 4, Holcombe Brook S.C. 'A' 8. Division 3: Holcombe Brook S.C. 'B' 11, Eagley 'B' 1; Leigh C.C.'C' 0.5, Bradshaw 11.5; Tyldesley 'B' 4, Ellesmere 'B' 8.

B.S.F. Howarth Cup Junior Competition FINAL 2.00 p.m. on Saturday 18th August at Markland Hill: Markland Hill 'A' v Markland Hill 'B' (46), (Official - Mrs. Jane Bradley).

B.S.F. Men's Divisional Cup Competition FINALS Sunday August 19th at 2.00 p.m.

Divisions 1 & 2 at Ellesmere T.C.: David Lloyd M'cr (14) v Hawkshaw 'A' (Official Mr John Barrow).

Divisions 3 & 4 at Markland Hill: Longsight Meths 'B' (18) v C. C. Walmersley, (Official Miss Janet Pendlebury).

Divisions 5 & 6 at Bradshaw: Bolton C.C. v Holcombe Brook S.C. 'C' (15), (Official Mr Robert Broughton).

Divisions 7 & 8 at Bolton School Courts: Chorley v Markland Hill 'E' (15), (Official Miss Anne Lindsay).