Last week was the final week in the Bolton Table Tennis League season. In the Premier Division Glodwick are the runaway leaders for the second year running. They finished by beating Radcliffe Cricket Club 27 – 4. Ramsbottom Town A are in second place only just in front of Flixton Cricket Club A who are only four points behind them. As if to make a point, Flixton beat Ramsbottom last week 22 – 13 with nine points from Paul Cicchelli. At the bottom of the table are Burning Desire with Ladybridge A just above them. Nomads keep out of the bottom two by just one point. Burning Desire lost to Hilton A 19 – 16 while Ladybridge A managed a draw with Flixton Cricket Club B 20 – 20.
In Division One, Ramsbottom Town C who have been playing catch up are now clearly on top. They concluded the season with a 23 – 15 win over Little Lever Cricket Club B with nines from Martin Holt and Sandy Choong. Second and third-placed Hilton B and Coburg met each other in this final week and Hilton B took it 22 – 16 to finish just two points ahead of Coburg. At the bottom, we have Hilton E and Heaton Cricket Club A adrift of the rest of the pack. Last week Hilton E lost out 18 – 15 to Wingates with a nine from Wingates John Bradbury and Heaton lost out by the same score to Meadow Ben A despite a rallying nine from Heaton’s David Hall.
Division Two’s top teams are way ahead the rest of the pack. Bolton TTC A have been in front throughout and Polonia Club A moved into second place part way through the season. Both teams finished the season by meeting each other. In this final match, Polonia Club A took the spoils 22 – 14 with a nine from Dawid Kakol. At the foot of the table we find Meadow Ben C with Farnworth SC C just above them. Farnworth lost out to third place St Paul’s Peel 19 – 14 assisted by the usual nine from St. Paul’s Lee Devenport. Meadow Ben lost out 26 – 8 to Ladybridge B with nines from John Cole and Brian Greenhalgh.
With only one loss and one draw, Walkden Methodists have been top throughout. Last week they were held to a 17 – 17 draw by Hilton G with Martyn Rolling on nine for Hilton. Second place has usually been juniors Hilton H. However, late in the season they have been reduced to third place as that position was taken by Hilton’s own F team. The F team finished with an 18 - 13 win over Irlam Steel SC.
With no fears of relegation, second from the bottom are Farnworth SC D and a special mention must go to Meadow Hill B who now in their fourth year at the bottom of the league still bounce back with eagerness and enthusiasm.
This week the Closed Championships take place with the finals and presentation on Monday 23rd April.
