Bolton Table Tennis League: RAMSBOTTOM A have jumped to the top of the Premier Division, and look certain to retain their title despite having to play catch up on their fixtures over the past week.

The only team that mathematically can catch them is Hilton A, who look certain to finish second, as thy did last year, although in a different name.

Mike Moir is favourite to retain his the Top Ten medal with a three point lead at this time.

Champions of Division One are Ladybridge A with all three of their players, George Simpson, Dave Bolton and Alex Waring having an excellent season. They finished four points ahead of Little Lever B, who ended the season strongly to claim second spot, with Mosses B in third place a further three points behind.

Hilton C, who have struggled all season to field a regular team ,are bottom, a point behind Little Lever C.

Kevin Chapman of Carlton has been the most consistent player over the season recording 53 wins, which is eight more than his nearest rival to win the Top Ten medal and go one better than the previous season when he was the runner-up.

BEN A won Division Two with a six point advantage over Hilton D. Rushtons are third one point behind the Hilton team. The BEN quartet Mike Audsley, Mike Heaton, Rod Hall and sub John Dodd came through strongly in the New Year, and clinched the title in the last match with a 6-3 win at Nomads B.

Halliwell Meths finished in bottom place well adrift of the other teams.

Congratulations to Steve Barber of Heaton C, who won the Top Ten medal with 52 wins, six more than second placed Gareth Palmer of Nomads.

The Division Three championship chase has been a very close contest all season, and in the last match Hilton E beat their nearest rivals Ramsbottom C 7-2 to give them a 13 point advantage over the Rammy team.

Siful Kahan trebled as did Lee Davenport, with Dave Marland winning the other set for the Hilton team. Siful is the Top Ten champion, recording 11 more wins than second placed Kirit Chauhan of Hilton F. The Bolton YMCA evergreens are bottom, aa one point behind Heaton F, who still have one match to play

Hilton J have held top spot in Division Four for most of the season but they were pipped at the final hurdle by BEN B who won their last match against Hilton L 8-1, to claim the top place with a four point advantage over the Hilton team.

Ladybridge D, with one result to come, will finish third.

The BEN team have been represented over the season by a squad of players including Alan Hodgert, Alan and Phil Calvert, Mike Aspinall and Jack Higginbottom.

John Barker of Hilton has the consolation of winning the Top Ten medal, recording 11 more wins than Phil Yates of Ladybridge in second place.

Closing date for entry to the closed championships at the Hilton Centre on Friday and Sunday, April 23 and 25, is Saturday, April 17. Send your entry as soon as possible, The entry form on page 40 of the handbook.

The Cup finals to be played at the Hilton Centre are:

Wednesday, April 21 -- Warburton Cup: Horwich/Hilton v Wharton B; George Yates Shield: Hilton E v Hilton F.

Thursday, April 22 -- Brian Gittins Cup: Little Lever A v Hilton Tameside; Ron Hindle Trophy: Ladybridge D v BEN B.

Spectators are welcome.