Markland Hill

lay out their

stall in style NO surprises greeted the start of the new season with the newly-constructed Markland Hill Leigh team starting its league title hunt in fine style.

The team, consisting of Leigh A's Julie Lowe, Vicky Askew, Carol Cronshaw and Anthony Cassidy has now joined up with Markland Hill's Chris Taylor and Dave Gradwell to form the new top team at the tennis club and, fittingly, the two played each other in the season's opener.

The resulting 17-1 scoreline for Markland Hill Leigh underlines the players' determination to keep at the top of the tree.

Meanwhile, traditionally nearest rivals Christ Church made an equally positive start to their championship salvo with a 14-4 away win against Hawkshaw A.

They play Markland Hill Leigh next week for the first time this season when it will be interesting to see how the two fare: especially in view of Christ Church's capability of fielding several County stars, of various ages.

Markland Hill A's chance to pit its skills against Christ Church had to be abandoned this week because of the fuel crisis: a situation which affected several League fixtures.

No luck for new-in Chowbent B, unfortunately, who took an 18-0 drubbing from an on-form Bury A side, nor for the other new A Section side Racquets with the same scoreline against the talents of ABC.

Last season, Sharples A pipped Farnworth A for the C Ssection championship, so their opening fixture against each other was always a possible close encounter.

Matters appeared rather differently on the night, however, with Sharples taking the initiative in a 12-6 away win. It is, however, early days in this particular battle.

Forrest B: always a solid B Ssection side: kicked off their new season with a 12-6 win against Park A in a clash involving two teams which always finish high in this division.

This promises to be a tough ssection this season overall, with Bolton Institute also making a positive start with a 12-6 win over Bury B.

E Section champions GMT B also announced their intentions to gain another title this season when they entertained Farnworth B at their Eccles' base.

Andrea Beech and Paul Hawker set the ball rolling with 15-3, 15-12 wins but Farnworth fought back with a clutch of close games to give GMT a 6-4 advantage going into the men's and ladies. Andrea Beech and Rita McCartney kept up the pressure with both top ladies but talented brothers Tim and Chris Barrow kept Farnworth in the game with both their top men's.

Unfortunately for Farnworth, Mo Kirwin and Rita McCartney took both second ladies' games 15-8, 15-5 to secure the points for the home teams.

The final two games were shared, leaving Eccles the winners this time 11-7.

Springfield C and Metro C were both relegated from C Ssection last season but enjoyed a close match to send out the message 'they'll be back' when they clashed at Kearsley DC.

Reliable Maggie Taylor and Dennis Corbett got Springfield off the mark with their first set, and added two more.

In fact, the home team waltzed through the mixed, taking all but one of the games.

Now needing only one game to win, Maggie joined forces with Linzi Casey to clinch the match with the first top ladies game 15-5. Metro fought back with a men's and a ladies' game but it was Springfields' night and they romped home 15-3.

The new David Lloyd side (apologies to Farnworth here: it comprises the former Great Lever team, not theirs) made a good start in E Ssection with a 16-2 pasting of BASS B.

And Smithills B, just missing out on promotion last season, certainly look set to try for it this year.

They entertained Markland Hill D and, after a shaky start in which games see-sawed, they settled in to the mixed to be 7-3 ahead at the change.

Linda Singh and Michelle Crook took the top ladies game 15-13 before Pam Yates and Christine Smith came back for the visitors to take the second 15-11.

But the experienced duo of David Wood and Len Ball put matters beyond doubt for Smithills when they took both top men's 1 and 4 for the points.

Markland Hill pulled back one ladies' game, but the scoreline was a useful 13-5 for Smithills.

Forrest F didn't have the best of seasons last year, but to their credit, never stopped going for it.

Efforts

Their efforts this season have brought early rewards when they met Farnworth D at home.

Claire Nelson and Adrian Jolly took the opening games 2 and 1 but the rest of the games were tougher and it was 5-5 going into the men's and ladies.

Here, Forrest proved the more successful, taking both top ladies, then losing the men's to Farnworth's Alan Barnes and Paul Deplitch.

The second ladies' set, however, went to Forrest and then both final men's to give them a 11-7 win, and smiles all round for Forrest.

*Match reports or match card photocopies can be sent for publication inthe BEN by Wednesday latest to: Angela Kelly, Features Department, Bolton Evening News, Churchgate, Bolton BL1 1DE, tel 01204-361262. Or, please send e-mails to akelly@lancashire.newsquest.co.uk

RESULTS: Section A: Markland Hill Leigh 17, Markland Hill A 1; Chowbent B 0, Bury A 18; Hawkshaw A 4, Christ Church 14; ABC 18, Racquets 0.

Section B: BIT 12, Bury B 6; Springfield A 5, Metro A 13; Farnworth A 6,Sharples A 12; Forrest B 12, Park A 6.

Section C: Markland Hill C 0, Swinton 18; Hawkshaw C 10, Westhoughton B 8; Metro B 14, Park B 4.

Section D: Deane A 6, Forrest C 12; GMT B 11, Farnworth B 7; Deane B 12, Sharples C 6; Springfield C 15, Metro C 3.

Section E: David Lloyd 16, BASS B 2; Smithills B 13, Markland Hill D 5; Sharples D 15, Deane C 3; Farnworth C 15, BASS A 3; Metro D 6, Hawkshaw D 12; Forrest D 16, Smithills C 2.

Section F: Holy Cross 3, Metro E 15; Springfield E 1, Westhoughton D 17; Forrest F 11, Farnworth D 7.