STRANGE happenings, strange appearances and the appearance of near-strangers have marked the first three weeks of the BSF Winter Tennis League season.

A rich variety of old and new faces has already sampled the contrasting delights of Harper Green and the Arena -- the quiet gentility of the former and the more raucous, Flushing Meadow bustle of the latter -- and have produced some tight matches and surprising results.

Standards have clearly risen with the advent of quality players in all three divisions. Outstanding here are perhaps Walmersley who with an unbeaten B side and despite their A team's record, looking very strong. With last year's good side supplemented by such as Messrs Morley and Routledge, not to mention Mrs Morley, they can be expected to test the best, the squad's resources skilfully directed, from an as yet undiscovered stronghold in Bury, by the strategic cunning of Brian Edwards, who has himself yet to make an appearance this year. In contrast to all this good play, Winter Hill "won" their match against Harwood by making only a relatively few 219 unforced errors per player.

Equally encouraging -- and not before time -- has been the increased presence in teams of youth and a consequent rise in pace, athleticism and near-balletic net coverage evoking comparisons with Nijinsky, either man or horse. Even more evident, of course, is the habitual sight of ageing, protesting limbs being cranked up for that do-or-die dash from baseline to service line and, wind willing, beyond, to display a brand of net coverage which, even with the rosiest of specs, evokes only thoughts of the (Co-op) horse.

But the trend to youth is heartening. Nowhere is this more evident than in Astley's startlingly good form to date, due largely to an improved Andrew Westmoreland, to Louise Taylor and to that predatory, "enfant terrible" Hannah Wilson, a young lady red in tooth and claw as seen, not least, in her and Miss Taylor's demolition of those battle-hardened warhorses from Bradshaw, Linda Tetik and Jeanette Walsh.

Other ladies making an initial impact as strong as Miss Wilson's - equally red if a tad longer in the tooth -- are Walkers' scarlet women Georgie Barrow and Christina Millington, whose impressive win against Markland Hill B brought victory to their male team-mates, the "long-lost" Steve Greenhalgh and John Barrow.

The pace-setters are the few remaining unbeaten sides: Holcombe, Walkers A and Longsight in Division One; Walmersley B, MGB and Astley in Division Two, and Chorley, David Lloyd and Guild Hall in Division Three, where additional entertainment is provided by Duncan Kyle's efforts to keep three Bolton School teams afloat with, at times, recourse to the flimsiest of red-nose, dark glasses disguises.

Congratulations are due to the Markland Hill lady pairings of Carolyn Pyatt/Becky Dennard and Sally Howell/Jane Keogh each of whom has reached the final stages of the prestigious Tate and Lyle competition.

Results

Division One -- Holcombe Brook A 27 Monton 20; Markland Hill A 36 Walkers C 17; Longsight 40 Allsorts 17.

Division Two -- Winter Hill 32 Harwood 20; Astley 30 Bradshaw 26; Eagley 33 HRM B 16; Walmersley B 30 Markland Hill B 27.

Division Three -- Guild Hall 31 Bolton School C 12; Holcombe Brook B 28 Bolton School A 20; Chorley 26 Walkers B 24; David Lloyd 26 Egerton 25.