Leaders clinch thriller PREMIER Division leaders Farnworth SC A scored a narrow 5-4 win at Meadow Hill thanks to three wins by Darren Howarth to maintain their five point lead at the top with two matches in hand.

Steve Dobbins scored three wins for Ramsbottom Vets in their 6-3 win at Hilton to move into second place and the Ramsbottom A team who could also make an impact at the top of the table just managed a 5-4 win against Horwich A.

Star performance was by junior Louis Rosenthaal who scored three excellent wins for Horwich. Majid Tubasum scored a treble for Farnworth SC B in their win at Horwich B, as did Steve Stringer for Lostock who won at Wharton.

Jim Chadwick with 52 wins is confirmed as the top 10 winner.

Division One leaders Mosses are now confirmed as champions after scoring maximum points against Nomads B, followed by a close 5-4 win over nearest rivals Nomads A, Craig Johnson winning three for Nomads.

Excellent triple

Paul Tatlock won his three for Little Lever B in their win against Wingates, as did Brian Doxey for Wharton who won a very close match at Doe Hey. Ladybridge A scored a convincing 8-1 win against Nomads B which included trebles by Dave Bolton and George Simpson, and bottom team Hilton B lost at home to Little Lever C 7-2. Trebles for Gary Pilling and Ian Lansdale.

Simon Charnley leads the top 10 at this time one ahead of Roy Costello and two ahead of Craig Johnson, but Craig has one match in hand and three wins here would give him the lead.

Withins A and Heaton A are the winners and runners-up in the Second Division, although the Heaton team lost their home match 5-4 against Black Dog which was mainly due to an excellent triple by Mel Brooks for Black Dog.

Maximum points for Horwich RMI C against Hilton C and for BEN A against Withins B. Veteran Terry McCarthy was in good form for Heaton B, scoring three wins in their win against Elton. Phil Myers remains top 10 leader and is the favourite to win this competition.

Withins C continue their push for the Division Three title with a 7-2 win over Ladybridge B, which included trebles by Alan Hardman and Alex Hinchcliffe. At this time Wingates top the table by 15 points and are strong favourites to run out winners.

Heaton C who could finish in second place scored a 7-2 win at Breightmet which included three wins by John Gibbons. In the match at the bottom of the table BEN B scored their third win of the season against bottom team Ladybridge C 7-2, which included first trebles of the season for Alan Hodgert and Mike Aspinall.

Hilton E won a close match against their D team thanks to three wins by Mark Willows and Brian Hall. Andrew Seddon won his three sets for Little Lever D in their win against Meadow Hill and is confirmed as the top 10 winner with 55 wins.

Competition to win Division Four remains intense. Little Lever E have regained top position thanks to their maximum points win against Heaton D, they now have a three point advantage over Sherringtons who could only take six points in their match at Withins, both have one match left to play.

Champions

Memorial Road ran out 7-2 winners at Heaton D and 5-4 winners at Halliwell Road Meths, trebles in both matches for Richard Hannant and one by Neil Unsworth. Ian Oakes was in good form for Meadow Hill C winning three sets in their win at Heaton E, as did Craig Bradbury for Hilton F in their victory over Jubilee A.

Adey Denson is confirmed as the top 10 winner with 56 wins.

Hilton H are the champions of Division Five with their G team runner-up, the H team posted a 7-2 win over their I team which included trebles by George Laks and Mike Roberts. The G team who lost at home 6-3 to Ladybridge F mainly due to an excellent treble by John Birchall Snr, have accrued enough points to secure second place. Peter Wilkinson and Carl Hanson both scored three wins for Cell Security in their win at Ladybridge D. The top 10 winner is Mike Roberts with 43 wins.

The finals of the Warburton Cup, George Yates Shield, Ron Hindle Memorial Trophy and the Brian Gittins Cup are to be played at the Hilton Centre on Wednesday April 12 starting at 7.30pm. Spectators welcome. Results:- Premier Division -- Horwich B 2, Farnworth SC B 7; Ramsbottom 5, Horwich A 4; Wharton A 2, Lostock 7; Hilton A 3, Ramsbottom Vets 6; Mead Hill A 4, Farnworth SC A 5.

Division One -- Nomads B 0, Mosses 9, Hilton B 2, Little Lever C 7; Doe Hey 4, Wharton B 5; Little Lever B 6, Wingates A 3; Mosses 5, Nomads A 4; Ladybridge A 8, Nomads B 1.

Division Two -- Heaton B 7, Elton 2; Horwich RMI C 9, Hilton C 0; Heaton A 5, Black Dog 4; Withins B 0, B.E.N. A 9.

Division Three -- Little Lever D 5, Meadow Hill B 4; Breightmet 2, Heaton C 7;

BEN B 8, Ladybridge C 1; Withins C 7, Ladybridge B 2; Hilton E 7, Hilton D 2.

Division Four -- Little Lever E 9, Heaton D 0; Withins D 3, Sherringtons 6;

Heaton D 2, Memorial Road 7; Halliwell Meths 4, Memorial Road 5; Heaton E 2, Meadow Hill C 7; Hilton F 6, Jubilee A 3.

Division Five -- Meadow Hill D 9, Hilton J 0; Hilton G 3, Ladybridge F 6; Hilton I 2, Hilton H 7; Ladybridge D 3, Cell Security 6. Top Ten Premier Division -- 52 Jim Chadwick, 42 Dave Griffiths, 41 Norman Thewliss, 40 Ron Durose, 36 Darren Howarth, Mike Dore, 35 Steve Dobbins, 34 Ron Pennington,

31 Mike Moir, 30 Graham Hoy.

Division One -- 46 Simon Charnley, 45 Roy Costello, 44 Craig Johnson, 42 Ian Lansdale, 40 Steve Williams, 39 Kevan Orton, John Bradbury, 37 Richard Simmons, 31 Paul Maddon, Andy McCheyne.

Division Two -- 48 Phil Myers, 44 Derrick Buckley, John Scowcroft, 36 Mike Audsley, 34 Phil Bakker, 32 Steve Barber, 29 Bill Walsh, 28 Steve Peet, 26 Mick Dunn, Mel Brooks.

Division Three -- 55 Andrew Seddon, 44 Eddie Lee, 42 Alan Hardman, 41 Phil Noden, 39 Chris Higson, 38 Malcolm Jackson, Eric Shaw, 37 Dave Southern, 35 John Birchall.

Division Four -- 56 Adey Denson, 52 Richard Hannant, Matt Heap, 44 Craig Bradbury, 40 Brian Harchnan, Bob Waller, Glen Roberts, 39 Bob Broughton, 38 Jack Quinn, 37 Mark Martin

Division Five -- 43 Mike Roberts, 39 Ron Ainsworth Neil Dunn, 38 John Birchall Snr, 35 Jean Smart, 34 Bill Dunn, 31 Fred Parker, 29 Nigel Anderson, 28 Peter Wilkinson, Len Rogers.

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