THE Bolton Sports Federation tennis leagues pass the halfway stage this week and matches resume following the Divisional Cup first rounds and battle commences for the final places.

For many years Holcombe Brook 'A' team have lead the Men's Premier Division but, this year, things are different and, for some weeks Markland Hill 'A' have been top guns. This week they beat South College 'A' 7-2 and while the scoreline is impressive enough to justify their position, the scorecard indicates Markland have potential problems as two couples only scored six of their points.

Top couples Bromley/Shacklady and Hassall/Whittle were undefeated on the night but the Hill team need to have strength in depth if they are to carry their current position through to the season end.

Holcombe Brook 'A' continue to harass them from one point behind and their 8-1 demolition job on Lostock 'A' underlines the Bury club's intentions.

The Lostock 'A' team were so outclassed that their top couple Robinson/Coyne lost two sets to Johnson/Peet and Crossley/Mayall.

July is the critical month for the Markland Hill team as they will play Lostock in the first week and Holcombe in the last week. They really need to win both to be certain of taking the title at the end of the season.

Walmer 'A' are back in form and are looking good at the top of Division Two following a crushing 9-0 defeat of Walmersley.

Even though this was a derby match the Walmer men were so much in charge that their opponents were allowed to score 11 games only in nine sets all evening.

One step behind them are Leigh 'A' who stumbled and lost a closely fought battle to Bradshaw 'A' 5.5-3.5.

Leading Leigh couple Johnson/Toppin valiantly fought and won 2.5 points but their team-mates were overwhelmed by their visit to Bolton and lost all their games bar one. Win of the week happened in Division Three when leading club Longsight Meths 'A' visited middle placed Claremont and lost both an epic battle and their undefeated status.

Top Meth's couple Hassall/Prince led from the front and were undefeated on the night but the Claremont team had the edge and all their couples were able to score at least one set which allowed them to run out 5-4 winners.

This result brings Walker's 'A' into contention, two points behind Longsight, following their good 6.5-2.5 win over South College 'B' who lose second spot as a consequence of the defeat.

Tyldesley have an eight-point stranglehold on their division following a comprehensive 9-0 defeat of their neighbours Astley & Tyldesley and are making Division Four look to be a battle for second place.

Currently the Halliwell Road Meths and Eagley 'A' teams are on equal points in second spot but dark horses Bolton Road 'A' are just three points behind them and are a consistent team capable of being in contention in the closing weeks.

Division 5 leaders Bradshaw 'B' stay in front following a good 6-3 win at Harwood and Markland Hill 'D' slip into second place for the first time this season and there are two teams within three points of them promising some fireworks in the remainder of the season.

Stand 'B' are a quiet team who never seemed able to make the final burst to the top of the table until this year when they have their noses in front of Division Six and a smooth 6-3 win over Ellesmere 'C' says they intend to stay there.

Their best couple Doyle/Bullough scored maximum points and the team looks balanced, competent and capable of holding this position for some time at least. Stand have a three point lead over Bolton Cricket's 'B' team and there is quite a battle for second place brewing.

This week the cricketers pulled themselves ahead of the pack with a straightforward 6-3 home win over Leigh 'C' but there is plenty of competition left with three other teams battling to get on terms.

An accomplished Eagley 'B' move four points clear of the three chasing Division Six teams following their 8.5-1.5 win over Hawkshaw 'C'.

Lowton and South College 'C' are on equal points behind them but Lowton have the edge as they have played all their open fixtures for the season and South College still have one to come.

In spite of having a division bedevilled by open nights the teams in Division Eight are managing to stay competitive.

Currently Walmer 'C' are the team to beat and have a comfortable four point lead over Bolton Road 'B' but doughty fighters Eagley 'C' and Hawkshaw 'D' are in with a shout as they pull away from the 'D' teams of Ellesmere and Walmer.

Competitors in the B.S.F. Tournament, starting on July 11, will be happy to know that the draw has been made, seeding and handicaps completed and arrangements are in hand for these to be published.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.