WITH all top three places in the Bury Snooker League Irwell Street Metal A section being decided last week, the main interest surrounded the relegation issue.

It was any two from four to join St Mary's, with Heywood Reform favourites to be one of them.

Walmersley D gained the three points which would see them to safety as they went down 5-3 away at Huntley. Darren Jones ended a personally successful season by taking the opener, while the Duck's good eggs were the trio of Brooks, Newbery and Royds. Tottington D also escaped after winning 6-2 at home to Elton Lib B.

Tony Adams and Frank McDougall were the only away victors, the latter being scrutinised by an up-and-coming Chigwell lad. Yours truly and Derek Bury took frames four and six by margins of 81 and 48 respectively, to seal the aggregate.

Bury Snooker C just failed to avoid the drop, despite a gallant effort away at St Mary's

Tom Gay in the first, and Kevin Bogden with breaks of 37 and 36 in the second had the snooker lads off to the best possible start but two reverses against Jim Coleman and Barry Woolner stopped Neville's lads taking the nine points they needed for safety.

Champions for the last two seasons, Heywood Reform, were ironically relegated by this year's champions, Elton Lib C. Russell's renegades conceded only one frame to John Lowe as the Gammon, Gilmore and Gornall amassed 260 points between them.

Two middle of the table teams were chasing the last six prize with East Lancs three points ahead of Fishpool. The game at Radcliffe ended 6-3 for the away side, leaving them to share the prize money.

Del Redmond and Paul Taylor were responsible for opening up a huge lead before John Flynn 96-43 and Maurice Ryder took the last two frames to share the spoils.

There was an unusual end to the season in the Arthur Booth B section, with four teams able to win the title at the start of the last match. In a remarkable chain of events, all four lost, leaving Salisbury A to take the honours by the narrowest of margins.

Dave Kean and John Slymon took the middle two frames for the home side but couldn't have thought it was enough to win the league as Elton Lib D took the other four, and a winning margin of 80 chalks, Chris Hunter and Dave Toth being the main protagonists again.

All Huntley C had to do was take two points away at Tottington B to win the division at their first attempt. This proved one frame too many as they produced their worst performance of the season to go down 7-1 with two players only scoring 32 points between them.

Captain Dave Brooks ended the season in style by taking the last 51-16. Elton Fold and Central B were in joint third, the latter fractionally in front on goal difference.

With the Fold being at home and Central B playing away at Elton Lib A, there was a steady trek of players moving from Leigh Lane to New George Street, to watch the matches develop.

The Fold looked strong favourites after taking the first four frames and probably the luck as they won three on the black ball. Across the road, Daz White and Neil Craven pulled the Radcliffe back to 2-2.

Back at the Fold, Walshaw's Steve Brookes and Dave Long had spoiled the Clondyke party by taking the last two by 71-44 and 84-32 to pinch the match 5-4.

This left Central to win one of the last two frames and the aggregate.

In the B&G Engineering C section, Tottington C failed by the narrowest of margins to take the title from Huntley B.

, with the Duck already having completed their fixtures. Ian Walkden's team needed five out of six winners on their travels at Whitefield Snooker Club.

They lost only two legs, and one of those on a black ball respot, as the home teams' Eddie Taylor and Tony Wainwright spoiled the party.

Walshaw A took third place after their 6-2 result at home to Seedfield.

Stanley A just missed out on promotion but their 7-2 win away at Central A moved them up into fourth spot.

Barry Smith and Dave Kennedy got the Snooker Club off to the best possible start but this was to be their only success as Jim's lads took the last four frames, Charlie Goddard again being the pick of the bunch.

Whitefield Bowling finished off their season with a 5-3 home win against Tottington A. After winning his first game of the season last week, the visitors' John Donlon won his second this week.

CENTURIES: D. Gilmore (Elton Lib C) 111; K. Bogden (Bury Snooker C) 110; P. Taylor (Tottington D) 109.

BREAKS: D. Redmond (Fishpool) 38; K. Bogden (Bury Snooker C) 37-36; J. Bromelow (Central B) 31; P. Taylor (Fishpool) 29; D. Gilmore (Elton Lib C) 28; R. Birtwistle (ELPM A) 26; T. Adams (Elton Lib B) 25.

FORK LIFT TRAINING ROLL-UP

Stanley A, Stanley B -- both 11 points. Stanley B win on countback.

QUEEN ANNE GLASS

Same as last week except D section should read Queen Anne Glass; C section should include J. Ridgeley; D section S. Smith to be replaced by C. Hunter; Queen Anne Glass captain, D. Bennett, (0161) 764 4060.

All players to be at Walshaw for 7.30pm unless prior arrangements made with captains.

Would all team captains please check that all details on the Roll of Honour agree with their own records.

High Break competition will be played at Walmersley Con Club on Wednesday, May 7. All players to be in attendance at 7.30pm.