RAMSBOTTOM A’s 8-2 victory at the expense of their own B team, extended their lead at the top of Division One of the Bury Table Tennis League to three points after this week’s fixtures. Rammy A’s Mick Moir and Andrew Jackson were both unbeaten.

Second-placed Radcliffe could only manage to beat Prestwich C 6-4 with three good wins coming from Gabriel Wilding for Prestwich. All the Radcliffe players won their remaining two matches.

Third-placed BAE beat Burning Desire 7-3 with Tony Worthington scoring a maximum. Prestwich B kept up the chase with a 9-1 victory over bottom club Seedfield, who’s only victory came in the doubles. Seedfield are now rooted to the bottom with Prestwich D, both 19 points from possible safety. This week, Prestwich could only manage two wins against Carlton Club A for whom Barry Elliot won his three games. In the remaining match, Prestwich A lost ground on the top teams losing 8-2 to Little Lever, for who Ronnie Durose and Phillip Riley were both unbeaten.

In Division Two, Bob Bent’s three wins for leaders Coburg helped them to an 8-2 victory, whilst second-placed Prestwich E could only manage a 5-5 draw against mid-table Maccabi A, for whom Stuart Landes recorded three wins. Dave Holden’s three wins for Carlton Club B helped them to a 7-3 win over strugglers Seedfield B.

Leaders of Division Three, Midges B, could only manage a 5-5 draw with mid-table Maccabi D, with no player winning more than two games. Second-placed Seedfield C failed to take much of an advantage, only winning 6-4 win against Holmar A, with Alastair McKernan unbeaten. The team that did take advantage of the under performances were Carlton Vale who beat Carlton D 9-1 to close to within 5 points of second place.

In the match between the bottom two teams, Maccabi C came out on top of Shawfield C 8-2 which makes any chance of avoiding relegation for Shawfield look hopeless. Maccabi’s win now takes them out of the bottom two and they are replaced by Prestwich G who lost 8-2 to ELPM B.

Two wins from each of the Holmar B team in Division Four helped them to a 7-3 win over Wardle A, despite the usual three wins from Dave Watts.

Top team Seedfield came up against unbeaten Wayne Ellis in their clash with Shawfield C with mixed success.

Talented junior player Adam Kenzitt ended Ellis’ 100 per cent record but Ellis still managed to beat both Harry Bell and Max Brooks.

Seedfield won 7-3 to move 25 points clear of second-placed Holmar C who welcomed Trevor Candler back after injury to record three wins in his team’s 5-5 draw with Shawfield D.

With Division Five leaders Seedfields result still outstanding, BGSOB B joined them at the top of the division despite losing 6-4 to cup giantkillers Maccabi G, while Holmar D recorded a rare victory over Seedfield F with three wins from Nigel Shaw.