LAST week the Bolton and District Table Tennis League’s cup finals were contested, with the new handicap system as much on trial as the teams themselves.

The Warburton Cup, contested by teams from all divisions, had Bolton TTC playing fellow Division Two team Polonia Club B in the final.

Bolton had only a 3.5-point start but did not need it as they won 348.5-310.

It was a much closer affair in the Brian Gittins Cup, for teams in the top two divisions.

Division One team Heaton Cricket Club A were taking on the mighty Ramsbottom Cricket Club A, who top the Premier Division. Heaton began with a 259.5-point start but Ramsbottom fought back methodically throughout the night to avoid giving away as many points as possible.

With one more set to be played Ramsbottom were 383.5-352 ahead so it all depended on the final set. Despite a valiant effort from Ramsbottom, Heaton finished on 397.5, leaving Ramsbottom on 396.

The George Yates Shield for Divisions Two and Three saw Bolton TTC in action again, this time against Saint Pauls Peel. Bolton had a start of 116.5 points but finished with a 450.5-324 win.

On Tuesday, the Closed Championships had also begun with the junior singles. This was played to a final on a round-robin basis with Jei Makino winning and Nathan Donaldson finishing as runner-up, both from Hilton teams.

On Friday, it was the turn of the over-60s’ handicap competition, also played to a final as a round-robin. Dennis Collier from Burning Desire was the winner, just edging out David Jones from Coburg.

On Sunday, the remaining competitions took place to the semi-finals stage, leaving the finals to be played on presentation evening the following night.

In the handicap singles, Nomads’ Kyan Chin beat Tony Bates from Flixton Cricket Club 11-3, 11-7, 11-5. He will play Charles Musa, also from Nomads, who beat Barry Elliott from Wharton 11-6, 11-6, 11-6.

In the level singles, Musa beat Lukask Serdiuk from Polonia Club 11-7, 15-13, 6-11, 11-7 and Chin beat Tony Bates 12-1, 11-6, 11-4 leaving Chin and Musa to battle it out once again.

In the over-40s’ level vets competition, Musa beat Chris Naylor, of Coburg, 11-8, 11-4, 11-7 while Chin beat Bates 7-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-8, leaving the same pair to fight another final.

In the handicap doubles, Musa and Chin teamed up to beat Steve Barber and Dennis Collier 11-6, 13-11, 11-5. They will meet Brian Hallsworth of Radcliffe Cricket Club and Dave Jones from Coburg, who just overcame Serdiuk and Dawid Kakol, both from Polonia Club, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9, 10-12, 11-8. Finally, in the level doubles Serdiuk and Kakol beat Chris Naylor and Alan Crompton from Hilton 11- 8, 11-4, 11-7 and will meet Chin and Musa who beat Wes Jones from Hilton and Flixton C’s Bates 11-9, 11-5, 11-4.