TOP Men's League team Holcombe Brook SC A turned out a weakened team against bottom club Tyldesley A.

The Tyldesley team had not read the script and, led by top couple Lewis and Pollock, all the team managed to get on the scoresheet.

But the excellence of Holcombe's Darlington and Hartley top pair saved the day by winning all three and Holcombe emerged 5.5-3.5 winners.

Holcombe's rivals, South College A, turned out an almost full-strength team and easily defeated Markland Hill A 8.5-0.5 to keep them within two points of the top.

Hawkshaw A won an exciting battle with Lostock A 5-4 and these three clubs now move three points clear in this division.

Leigh CC A were easily outplayed in a 6.5-2.5 defeat by Division Two title hopefuls South College B, but Leigh CC B almost caused an upset when they took on leaders Walmer A.

In an extremely close match with no drawn sets and in which all couples scored, the Leigh C.C.'B' just lost 4-5 and allowed Walmer 'A' to go clear and Leigh are left to consider what might have been a second league place if one of their teams had won.

Unlucky, Markland Hill 'B' lost their Division 3 fixture to the weather despite valiant attempts by the home team Walkers to prepare good playing conditions.

This allowed Next Generation (Chorley) 'A' to move seven points clear in Division 3 following their whitewash of Claremont. Even with one draw against them, the Next Generation team still have the best record so far in Men's tennis.

Bottom Division 3 team Elton Vale 'A' entertained Hawkshaw 'B' and in a tense and windy struggle they emerged with their first win of the season.

Division 4 tigers Tyldesley 'B' easily disposed of Holcombe Brook SC 'B' challenge, but Ellesmere 'B' cling to their coat-tails but still remains even points adrift following an equally easy 7-2 win at David Lloyd (Manchester) 'B'.

David Lloyd (Bolton) 'B' move on imperiously with a 9-0 defeat of a decent Eagley 'A' side and, with 10 points clear of chasing Chorley 'A', are outclassing all the Division 5 teams. They are so far ahead that one more win out of four remaining fixtures will confirm them as champions.

With second placed Bradshaw 'B' sidelined with an open fixture in Division 6, Lostock 'C' took full advantage by winning 5.5-3.5 at Guildhall. This just keeps their noses in front by a single point and the battle looks set to continue now right through to season end.

A drawn match between the top two Division 7 teams leaves Next Generation (Chorley) 'B' in the lead by one point over Lostock 'D'. However, Leigh C.C.'D' is a strong outfit and, with one match result still to post, could enter the battle to make this a three-way challenge.

Division 8 leaders David Lloyd (Bolton) 'B' continues to be pressed hard by Ellesmere 'C'. Both teams won this week and are now eight points clear of rivals and the battle between the pair looks set to run to the season end.

Good competition abounds in Division 9. This week, a tense thriller between two of the top three teams reduced the division to two leaders.

An easy win over their fellow 'C' team keeps top team Chorley 'B' ahead of David Lloyd (Bolton) 'C' who just managed to win 5-4 at Harwood C.C. 'B'.

Junior League matches are completed for Divisions 1 to 4 and the results awaited for the last round of Division 5 fixtures to complete the season.