THE clash between last season's two top teams in the Bolton Table Tennis League Premier Division resulted in a narrow 5-4 win for Ramsbottom A over Tonge A.

The victory arrived on the strength of three wins by the current top ten leader Mike Moir, and two by Mark Ramsbottom.

Second-placed Hilton A beat Wharton A 7-2, which included a treble by Ron Pennington, and Graham Jeffries was unbeaten for Little Lever A in their 7-2 win over Tameside. Lindsey Reynolds and Andy Michnowiec trebled for Lostock who beat Little Lever B 8-1, as did Jim Chadwick and Wayne Renton for Radcliffe who beat Nomads A by the same scoreline.

Burning Desire B are now 11 points ahead of Heaton A on the top of Division One after their 7-2 win at YMCA, which included three wins by Top Ten leader Kevin Chapman. While the Heaton team only managed a 5-4 win over Tonge B with Paul Branwood unbeaten for the losers.

Ramsbottom B, who lie in third spot with a match in hand, are one point behind Heaton after their comprehensive 9-0 win at Little Lever C. Alan Bradbury trebled for Wingates who won 7-2 at Heaton C, and Heaton B ran out 5-4 winners after a close match with Ladybridge A, one of the games was won by George Simpson against Matt Ward 27/25 which is the record for this season.

Ellesmere A are the new leaders in Division Two with a two point advantage over the early pace setters Meadow Hill A. Ellesmere won 7-2 at Hilton D which included three wins by Richard Hinchcliffe while Meadow Hill without Steve Jones went down 6-3 at Little Lever D for whom new top ten leader Mark Martin trebled.

Rod Hall on his first appearance for BEN A trebled at Heaton D, but his team lost 5-4 Alan Cromptom was unbeaten for Heaton E who recorded a 6-3 win at Hilton F. Mark Speakan and Roger Bertrand both scored three wins for Hilton E who beat their G team 8-1.

In Division Three, top ten leader Brett Haslam scored his usual three wins for table topping Hilton J in their 8-2 win at Heaton F, they are now two points ahead of Hilton I but have played one match less. The I team ran out 6-3 winners over Ladybridge C with Gill Marsden unbeaten.

Andy and Jack Riley trebled for Meadow Hill B to take a 6-3 win at Ellesmere B, and Alan Hibbert was unbeaten for BEN B who lost 5-4 to Hilton H.

Hilton L with a match in hand share top spot in Division Four with Heaton G on 40 points. Both teams recorded 7-2 wins, Hilton L against St Thomas B with George Berry their unbeaten player, and Heaton at Tonge C with both the top ten leader Colin Roberts and Fred Martindale winning three apiece. David Yates trebled for Irlam who won 6-3 at Bolton Lads and Girls Club as did John Pilkington for St. Thomas A who also won 6-3 at Hilton M.