TENNIS: Holcombe are in class of their own

4:40pm Wednesday 16th July 2008

WITH cruise-control set to invincible and still four weeks from the season end, Holcombe Brook SC A have just about made Division One their own with a good 6-3 win against Hawkshaw A, who are one of the tougher teams in Men’s tennis.

Sporting the best overall record of any of the 66 teams in the league, they raised the standards bar higher than ever and look set for a record season, even when judged by their own high standards.

Ellesmere A are certainly the surprise card in the Division One pack this year. Last season they were promoted as easy winners of Division Two and have progressively evolved into a significant Division One outfit by holding second place for last three weeks. They strengthened their position with a good 7-2 win over an already-relegated Lostock A, who have had a terrible season and hold the worst record in Men's tennis so far.

Possibly the only real contenders to dispute Ellesmeres second place are Markland Hill A who have steadily progressed through the Division and, with some depth to their top squad, may be a determining force at the season end. With an easy 7-2 win against Next Generation (Chorley) A, Markland stay just three points behind Ellesmere and the last encounter between the pair in a couple of weeks should decide Division One second place.

Lowton, who got nowhere in their division last year, appeared to have found a higher gear this season and have established a Holcombe Brook SC A style lead at the top of Division Four.

With a slightly stronger team their visiting opponents Markland Hill A, they could easily have defeated them as they had two couples who just failed to win all their matches.

In a tremendous effort, their best pair Jones and Whittle, were undefeated, but their opponents had more depth and with each of the home-team couples scoring, the match played out as a draw and the Lowton seven-point princely lead remains intact.

Men Division One: Holcombe Brook SC A 6 Hawkshaw A 3; South College A 8.5 Leigh CC A 0.5; Lostock A 2 Ellesmere A 7; Next Generation (Chorley) A 2 Markland Hill A 7.

Men Division Two: South College B 4.5 Longsight Meths A 4.5; Ellesmere B 5.5 Tyldesley A 3.5; Longsight Meths A 9 Lostock B 0; Leigh CC B 3 Walmer A 6; Markland Hill B 3.5 South College B 5.5.

Men Division Three: David Lloyd (Bolton) E 4 Elton Vale SC A 5; Hawkshaw B 8 Bradshaw A 1; Tyldesley B 0 Longsight Meths B 9; Chorley A 5 David Lloyd (Bolton) A 4.

Men Division Four: Barrow Bridge A 3.5 Holcombe Brook SC B 5.5; Lowton 4.5 Markland Hill C 4.5; Lostock C .5 Ellesmere C 8.5.

Men Division Five: Walkers 0 Chorley B 0; Winton 8 Next Generation (Chorley) B 1; David Lloyd (Bolton) B 3.5 Leigh CC C 5.5.

Men Division Six: Walmer B 8 Lostock D 1; Holcombe Brook SC C 6 Hawkshaw C 3; Bradshaw B 5.5 Eagley A 3.5.

Men Division Seven: Ellesmere D 7 Astley & Tyldesley 2; Bolton CC 9 Meadow Hill 0; Roe Green T.C. 1.5 David Lloyd (Bolton) C 7.5.

Men Division Eight: Leigh CC D 3.5 Walmer C 5.5; Eagley B 7 Holcombe Brook SC D 2; Hawkshaw D 4.5 Bradshaw C 4.5.

Men Division Nine: David Lloyd (Bolton) D 3 Claremont B 6; Walmer D 0 Chorley D 9; Lostock E 0 Barrow Bridge B 0.

Mixed Division One: Markland Hill A 66 Lostock A 43; Lostock B 26 Hawkshaw A 68; Next Generation (Chorley) 59 David Lloyd (Bolton) A 49.

Mixed Division Two: Hawkshaw B 72 Lostock C 25; Longsight Meths A 47 Markland Hill B 65.

Mixed Division Three: David Lloyd (Bolton) B 70 Walkers 16; Holcombe Brook SC B 64 Bradshaw A 37; Barrow Bridge A 60 Hawkshaw C 46.

Mixed Division Four: Bolton CC 57 Longsight Meths B 41; Lostock D 68 Markland Hill D 48; David Lloyd (Bolton) D 60 Holcombe Brook SC C 46.

Mixed Division Five: Bradshaw B 57 Meadow Hill 36; Hawkshaw D 60 Eagley A 45.

Mixed Division Six: Holcombe Brook SC D 67 Lostock F 29; Bradshaw C 59 Walmer C 54; Eagley B 43 Barrow Bridge B 61.

Men's Divisions One and Two Divisional Cup Semi Final: Leigh CCA (No-show) v Hawkshaw A (+9.5) (walkover); Markland Hill B (+18.5) 37.5 Markland Hill A 51.

Men's Divisions Three and Four Divisional Cup Semi Final: Markland Hill C (+6.5) 33.5 Holcombe Brook SC B 52; David Lloyd (Bolton) A 44 Hawkshaw B (+9.5) 46.5.

Men's Divisions Five and Six Divisional Cup Semi Final: Walmer B 51 Lostock D (+15.5) 45; Bradshaw B 34 Eagley A (+3.5) 46.5.

Men's Divisions Seven, Eight and Nine Divisional Cup Semi Final: Hawkshaw D (+6.5) 42.5 Walmer C 50; Eagley B 43 Leigh CC D (+9.5) 51.5.

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