TOP Premier Division team Ramsbottom A suffered their first defeat of the season at their closest rivals Flixton.

In a close match which was level at three all, Flixton moved ahead to record a 5-4 scoreline.

Their success featured two wins by Phil Biggs and John Hilton, and one by Jeff Craighill but, Ramsbottom’s top 10 leader Mick Moir showed his class with an excellent treble, Mark Ramsbottom added the fourth set.

St Catherine’s A came away with a 5-4 win at Ramsbottom B with three wins by the in form Charles Musa and two by Pawel Orzechowski. Khamal Hussain won two and Brian Clements and sub Graham Young won each for the losers.

Hilton A’s Andy Michnowiec, Ron Pennington and Graham Coupe scored maximum points against Burning Desire, and Radcliffe CC won 5-4 in a close match at Ramsbottom C in which four played recorded two wins.

Little Lever A beat Heaton A 8-1 with trebles by Ron Durose and Graham Jeffries and a double by Steve NcNicholas who lost to Heaton’s Steve Barber Seventeen points separate the top three teams in Division One where Ramsbottom D remain top after winning 7-2 at Coburg, followed with a 5-4 loss at third in the table Nomads A.

Against Coburg Martin Holt was unbeaten and Tom Ryan and Neil Booth won two apiece, both losing to Coburg’s Bob Bent.

In the match with Nomads Derek Watmough scored three wins and Dennis Collier two for the winners. Tom Ryan winning two and Martin Holt and Neil Booth one apiece for the losers.

Nomads had previously been beaten 5-4 at Ladybridge A who are currently in second spot; the Ladybridge win featured a treble by Eddie Simon and a double by Dave Bolton. Derek Watmough won two and Dennis Collier and Clive Taylor one each for Nomads.

Grubba Fans who are outsiders for promotion won 7-2 at Wingates where Fred Turban and Lee Devenport won three and Brett Haslam one. John and Alan Bradbury both recorded a single win for Wingates.

Three wins by Keith Dale and two by Gareth Palmer gave Nomads B a 5-4 win at Standish, and top ten leader John Hutchinson was unbeaten for Little Lever C who won 7-2 at Heaton B.

Heaton C’s John Scowcroft, Duncan Kay and Bill Fairhurst returned to winning ways and consolidated their position on the top of Division Two with a 9-0 victory over their E team.

They are now 12 points clear of Hilton D in second spot who won a close match at Heaton D 5-4. For Heaton, Paul McCormick trebled and Steve Woods added one. Hilton‘s Chris Naylor and Steve Jones won two each and sub Craig Duncan won one.

Meadow Bank seven points adrift of Hilton beat Ladybridge B 6-3 with three wins by Mike Brierley, two by Paul Whyatt and one by Paul Pover. Alex Waring winning two and Brian Greenhalgh one for Ladybridge.

Premier Division: Flixton CC 5 Ramsbottom A 4, Hilton A 9 Burning Desire 0, Ramsbottom C 4 Radcliffe CC 5, Ramsbottom B 4 St Cath’s A 5, L Lever A 8 Heaton A 1.

Division One: Nomas A 5 Ramsbottom D 4, L Lever C 7 Heaton B 2, Wingates 2 Grubba Fans 7, Ladybridge A 5 Nomads A 4, Coburg 2 Ramsbottom D 7, Standish 4 Nomads B 5.

Division Two: Hilton E 3 BEN A 6, St Cath’s C 9 Hilton E 0, Heaton D 4 Hilton D 5, Heaton C 9 Heaton E 0, BEN A 3 Farnworth A 6, L Lever D 4 Hilton C 5, Meadow Bank 6 Ladybridge B 3.

Division Three: Meadow Hill 1 Hilton F 8, Hilton H 1 Farnworth B 8, Hilton G 9 BEN B 0, Irlam 1 Hilton I 8 Division Four: L&GC A 2 Ladybridge C 7, L&GC B 0 Harper Green 9, St Cath’s D 0 Hilton J 9, Harper Green 5 Farnworth C 4, Hit & Hope 0 Harper Green 9.