Ruthless Helen leads the way for Walmersley's wonders

WALMERSLEY B clinched the Division Two title last week with a convincing victory over Harwood.

Walmersley's hard-core team members delivered the win with that tennis miser, hard-hearted Helen Artingstall leading the onslaught.

Set scores of 10-0, 10-0, 10-4 were testimony to Mrs A's "take no prisoners", on-court ruthlessness. She was supported by Bill Gavin, Rick Morley and her regular comrade in court muggings, Diane Hardman equally relentless and with a stare when offended that can freeze the blood at 100 paces.

In Division One Walkers A made a significant move for honours in narrowly beating Longsight. Three down after the mixed sets, Walkers' win was nominally secured by a big men's win for Nigel Horsler and Lee Sharples but the real stars were surely Karen Kay and Julie Holmes who held bulldog-like to the Longsight ladies' coat-tails with some fine play.

Elsewhere there was a rare win for Guild Hall versus an on-paper strong Bolton School A (or B or Z) side led by the swashbuckling, "Braveheart" play of Duncan Kyle. Supported by Terry Booth, dreadnought Maggie Wilson and that acme of perpetual motion Lindsay Thomas, they presented a tough challenge.

Guild Hall were up to it with the hustle and bustle of Alan Brooks complemented by Gwyn Whitaker's mix of more measured play with occasional red mist accompaniment. Guild Hall's ladies, the promising Allison Whitaker and the legendary Dorothy "La Stupenda" Hutchinson played no less a part.

The 10am Sunday start still proves too much for some bed-hoggers as was seen when Allsorts met Monton. Elaine and Ian Lowe looked and saw but otherwise all was bleary, white-stick movement even from the normally super-charged Sue McClelland. Her heavy legs may, however, have been due to the burden of captaincy in the absence of Ilona Kilburn, enjoying the new role of grandmother. For Allsorts, Dave Gregory gave his usual might and main, sinew-snapping attempt to carry the day but Monton were in control, none more so than that ghost from the past Derek Boston whose cool play makes Walkers B's Rip Van Wright look like the Mad Axeman.

Results -- Division One: Walkers A 28, Longsight 26; Monton 32, Allsorts 20; Walmersley A 38, Walkers C 18; Markland Hill A 43, Bolton CC 18.

Division Two: Walmersley B 45, Harwood 13; HRM A 31, Winter Hill 20; Markland Hill B 34, HRM B 22.

Division Three: Guild Hall 30, Bolton School A 27; Holcombe Brook B 31, Egerton 23.