New ball aimed at raising profile of game THE new larger size 40mm ball introduced at the start of the new season is the first major change in equipment for some time. Introduced to slow the game down, in an effort to make the game more appealing to spectators and hopefully gain more TV exposure, which, in the long term, it is hoped will attract more people into the sport.

Admirable aims which, I am sure, we all support.

On the domestic front, our new clubs and a total of 69 teams, five more than last season, started the new campaign.

The Premier division champions Farnworth SC A surprisingly lost their opening match 5-4 to their B team, which was mainly due to the three excellent wins by Glen Payne.

Newly promoted Mosses struggled in their opening match, losing by maximum points at Ramsbottom.

Last season's top ten winner, Jim Chadwick, lost in straight games to Ron Pennington in his team's 5-4 defeat by Hilton A. Paul Branwood recorded a treble for Horwich/Hilton A in their 6-3 win over Wharton, and Little Lever A ran out 5-4 winners against an under-strength Lostock.

The two promoted teams into Division One, Withins A and Heaton A, both made winning starts to the new campaign., Withins A beating Little Lever B 7-2, which included trebles by Phil Myers and Derrick Buckley, Heaton winning 6-3 against Little Lever C, thanks to a treble by Ian Craig.

Three wins from junior Simon Ledwick and Chris Byrne helped Horwich/Hilton B to a 7-2 win over Wharton

Nomads A lost 5-4 to Ladybridge A despite three wins by Craig Johnson, and Dennis Collier won his three sets for Nomads B in their 5-4 win over Doe Hey.

Chorley Old Road ran out 5-4 winners against Wingates, with four players recording 2 wins.

Two teams in Division Two won by an 8-1 margin; Heaton B against Bolton Road, and Horwich/Hilton C against Hilton B. Trebles here for Barry Dobbins and Paul Mort of Heaton and Nigel Shields and Jim Higham of H/H.

Three wins each for Hannah Roberts and Eddie Lee helped newly-promoted Wingates B to a 7-2 win over Heaton C.

The other promoted team, Withins B, ran out 5-4 winners at BEN A thanks to three wins by Alan Hardman.

Phil Bakker also scored a treble for Horwich RMI in their 7-2 win over Black Dog.

Three matches in Division Three were decided by a narrow 5-4 scoreline.

New team Memorial Church went down 5-4 at Hilton F despite three wins from Ian Westmoreland, Hilton D won 5-4 at Ladybridge and Chris Higson scored three wins for Heaton D who lost 5-4 at Little Lever D.

Phil Noden scored a treble for Meadow Hill A in their 6-3 win at Heaton E, and all three Little Lever E players won two sets in their 6-3 win over Withins C.

New team Ainsworths started their Division Four programme with a tough away match at Ladybridge, losing by an 8-1 scoreline. Three wins here for Brian Greenhalgh and Andy Scully.

YMCA also ran out 8-1 winners against newly-promoted Hilton H but some of the scores were closer than the scoreline suggests. The win included trebles by Jack Quin and Alan Weall. Three wins by Kirit Chauhan helped BEN B to a 6-3 win at Hilton E.

Craig Bradbury also recorded three wins but his team Hilton G lost by the same score at Halliwell Rd Meths.

All three Jubilee A players won two sets in their 6-3 win over newly-promoted Hilton I.

Three wins by Richard Hannant helped clinch a 5-4 win for Memorial Road at Meadow Hill.

The three matches played in Division Five were all won by a wide margin.

The Ladybridge E team of Ian Gregory, Gary Parker and Fred Parker won 9-0 at Meadow Hill D, and trebles by Jackie Smith, Peter Holden and Phil Yates gave Meadow Hill C their 9-0 win at Hilton J.

Jubilee C's 8-1 win over Hilton K included three wins by

Richard Reading and David Jones.

RESULTS - Premier Division: Farnworth SC B 5 Farnworth SC A 4, Ramsbottom A 9 Mosses 0,

Hilton A 5 Cricketers 4, Horwich/Hilton A 6 Wharton A 3, Little Lever A 5 Lostock 4

Division One: Withins A 7 Little Lever B 2, Heaton A 6 Little Lever C 3, Wharton B 2 Horwich/Hilton B 7, Nomads B 5 Doe Hey 4, Nomads A 4 Ladybridge A 5, Wingates A 4 Chorley Old Road 5.

Division Two: Heaton B 8 Bolton Road 1, Hilton B 1 Horwich/Hilton B 8, Wingates B 7 Heaton C 2, BEN A 4 Withins B 5, Horwich RMI 7 Black Dog 2.

Division Three: Memorial Church 4 Hilton F 5, Ladybridge B 4 Hilton D 5, Little Lever D 5 Heaton D 4, Hilton F 3 Meadow Hill A 6, Little Lever E 6 Withins C 3, Farnworth SC C 9 Farnworth Cricketers 0.

Division Four: Ladybridge C 8 Ainsworths 1, YMCA 8 Hilton H 1, Heaton E 3 BEN B 6, Halliwell Rd Meths 6 Hilton G 3, Jubilee A 6 Hilton 13, Meadow Hill B 4 Memorial Road 5.

Division Five: Meadow Hill D 0 Ladybridge E 9, Hilton J 0 Meadow Hill C 9, Jubilee C 8 Hilton K 1.