Double Whammy for Rammy
Last week’s league matches were the last in the current season so attention turns to the top and bottom of the tables. It was thought that since the tables had been very stable since the first half of the season that they would hold no surprises. However, the talking point must be the fact that last year’s champions Flixton Cricket Club A, who had been second in the table all season met third placed Ramsbottom Town A who beat them 23 – 10 and squeezed them into third place. Maximum nine points came from Richard Lightowler and Michael Moir. With Ramsbottom Cricket Club on top all season they now complete the double. At the foot of the table we have Coburg A who have struggled all season having been promoted from Division One. They met Little Lever A who won 18 – 15 with nines from Graham Jeffries and Ron Durose. Above them, also promoted, Heaton Cricket Club A have one result to come but do not have a chance in moving.
In Division One relegated Burning Desire take the title. They breezed past a Farnworth SC A without their best player 27 – 4 with obviously all players on maximum points. Taking the title of runners up are Acre Bottom. They met their own inter-club team Ramsbottom Town B winning 22 – 12 despite a resisting nine from David Kay. At the bottom are last year’s promoted Meadow Ben A who had an open date last week. This was their first year at this level and they look set to return to Division 2, although I’m sure they will be set to make a comeback. Just above them Hilton C may join them. They tied 17 – 17 with Coburg B helped by a nine from Stephen Hunt.
Division Two’s Hilton D were relegated last year. After a bit of a shaky start they have been constant division leaders. Last week they just lost out to Heaton Cricket Club B, their rivals in second place. This was helped by a nine from David Hall. This did not affect their relative positions and both teams are well ahead of the pack in this division. At the bottom we find Top Spinners who were just saved from relegation last year. They just lost 17 – 15 to BRASS B despite a resisting nine from stand-in Leon Smethurst. They have struggled all season often with only a two man team and probably will not be sorry to have better chance in Division Three. Just above them and well below the rest on points, we find last year’s promoted Boyzone. They lost 19 – 14 to Heaton Cricket Club C.
In Division Three Bolton Table Tennis Club B who had an open week are runaway winners. They are followed by St. Paul’s Peel who with one result to come cannot be caught. At the other end of the table we find Ramsbottom C who with their result to come are unlikely to move and above Walkden Methodists who have had an unusually rough year. They just lost 18 – 17 to Meadow Ben C despite a resisting nine from Walkden's Carl Bennett.
In Division Four second placed Meadow Hill A went into their match against top of the table juniors Hilton I with an air of optimism. They were the only team to have beaten them during the season. With only seven points separating them they could possibly turn the tables on them. Alas, it was not to be. Hilton I ran out winners 22 – 19 with top of the averages Steven Gao on maximum nine points. At the bottom of the table we find Meadow Hill B with Ladybridge C just above them. They can both be thankful that there is no division to which they can be relegated.
This week we have the Individual Divisional Championships with one day allocated to each division. These are all played at the Hilton Centre.
