AS Leigh A settle in at the League's No.1 position, in B Section a strong Chowbent B side look leading contenders for top Section promotion this season.

Leigh have already beaten one of their nearest challengers with an 11-7 win over Christ Church away so will be looking ahead with confidence. Markland Hill A are in the second spot with two good wins, but this run came to a temporary halt when they went down 11-7 at home to third-placed ABC last week.

But, while Chowbent A fight to consolidate their A Section place, the club's B team are demolishing all before them. Latest victims were one of last season's top B Section sides Park A.

Although currently minus one of their strongest players Barbara Gillette, they must have been hoping for equal success this season. But they failed to make an impression on this promotion-seeking Chowbent side, and went down 15-3 away.

New down from B Section, Thornleigh B look in a determined frame of mind this season. Having disposed of Metro B 14-4, they then faced Hawkshaw C at home with both teams unbeaten. It was Thornleigh, however, who started the better when the experienced pairing of Caroline Buchanan and Geoff Williams took the opening set 15-4, 15-2.

But Hawkshaw's P Holden and M Headley immediately hit back to take the second set. The mixed see-sawed in this way, leaving Thornleigh just ahead 6-4.

When the top ladies' set was shared, it looked like the levels would go the same way, but Geoff and Paul Williams took both top men's. Although second ladies went to Hawkshaw, when Paul with Mike Horrocks took the first of the final men's games, they had reached 10 games, and the final 10-8 score added the desired two points.

A disciplinary action last season put Mount St Joseph's down from C to D Section, but they are already showing their form. After beating Park C 12-6, they moved on to tackle newly-promoted Westhoughton C at home. MSJ started well with Sandra Haworth and Paul Thompson taking the opening set. Kath and Elwyn Holt came back for Westhoughton to split the second, and Sue Scott and Frank Stec took the third.

But MSJ cleaned up the rest to be 7-3 ahead going into the levels.

Sue Scott and Kath Holt kept the visitors' hopes alive with both top ladies, but when Paul Thompson and Dave Aruvee took top men's, MSJ had at least one point for a draw. Jean Green and Sue Scott then took both second ladies 15-6, 15-4 to put Westhoughton on seven games, but Tony Waring and Dave Aruvee put the scoreline beyond doubt when they took both the last men's games for a tense 11-7 win.

Thornleigh F had a similar nail-biter in their G Section clash with Heaton away. At 5-5 Thornleigh hopes must have been high when talented young players Lyndsey Taylor with June Pascoe took both top ladies. But Eric Wilding and Richard Latham for Heaton split top men's, then Vicky Johnson and Lilian Croston took both second ladies. All rested on the final men's games with Chris Schofield and Richard Latham taking the first 15-5 for Heaton, and another promising Thornleigh youngster Carl Lock with Harold Smith taking the second game, also 15-5, for a deserved draw. Results: A SECTON: Markland Hill B 2, Bury A 16; Christ Church A 7, Leigh A11; Hawkshaw A 9, Forrest A 9; Leigh B 3, Markland Hill A 15; ABC 18, Chowbent A 0.

B Section: GMT A 7, Westhoughton A 11; Markland Hill C 8, Forrest C 10; Bury B 6, Thornleigh A 12; Rosehill 12, Hawkshaw B 6; Chowbent B 15, Park A 3.

C Section: Westhoughton B 3, Metro B 15; Hawkshaw C 13, Westhoughton B 5; Bolton SC 7, Swinton 11; Metro B 4, Thornleigh B 14; Thornleigh C 10, Farnworth A 8; Christ Church B 14, Park B 4; Farnworth A 11, Christ Church B 7; Sharples A 11, Metro B 7; Thornleigh B 10, Hawkshaw C 8.

D Section: Christ Church C 8, Sharples C 10; Forrest D 10, Chowbent C 8; Deane A 16, Christ Church C 2; Chowbent C 12, Leigh C 6; Westhoughton C 7, BIHE A 11; Sharples B 10, Forrest D 8; Leigh C 11, Sharples B 7; Mount St Joseph's 11, Westhoughton C 7; Sharples C 10, Deane A 8; Christ Church C 11, Park C 7; Park C 6, Mount St Joseph's 12.

E Section: BASS A 11, Westhoughton D 7; Westhoughton D 14, Farnworth B 4; Metro D 2, Markland Hill D 16.

F Section: Thornleigh E 8, Metro E 10; Smithills B 11, BIHE B 7; Park D 3, Sharples D 15; Forrest F 0, GMT B 18.

G Section: Holy Cross A 14, Forrest G 4; Farnworth D 8, Heaton 10; Heaton 9, Thornleigh F 9; Smithills C 4, Farnworth D 14.

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