WITH many of our teams playing out their final game of the season, Monday night still managed to produce some good, closely fought games and one or two surprise results.

In past seasons Bolton Road A v Fishpool A would be a 50/50 game and has quite often been the championship decider. Not this year however, things just haven't run true for "The Road" and Fishpool were already crowned as champions, carrying on an unblemished league record into the game. On the night Bolton Road announced that they intend bouncing back next year, narrowly taking the game with a score of 121-114 and thus ending the claim of "A perfect season" for Fishpool.

Elsewhere in the division, there were further wins for Ramsbottom Ladies and Ainsworth A, Radcliffe CC signed off with a home win from Fishpool B and St Mary's A welcomed a surprise away win from Bolton Road B (126-139).

In division two, Warth A confirmed their championship pedigree with a comfortable last game win over Redvales B. The night's important result was an innings win for Woodbank A from St Mary's B a result which ensured second place and promotion to the first next term. Both Bury Felt B and Bury West managed to claim two more points, but they needed Woodbank to lose for their hopes of promotion to remain alive, Limefield A are relegated to division three next term, but refused to leave without a flight, pulling off a surprise last game win for Brocks XlA (150-100).

After Tuesday nights game, division three will require a 'second-place' play-off, to decide as to just who will join Bury East A as fully fledged members of 'the Monday Club' next year. Brocks Xl B are one team in that play-off, booking their place with a comfortable innings victory from the relegated Redvales Derby. And their opponents will be Duck Club, who had to stage a second-half comeback to claim a (121-114) win over Kings XL, in order to make the play-off.

Also in division three, another relegated side, Wellington, saved their 'best till last', pulling off a surprise win from Warth B, by the narrowest of margins (116-115).

Division Four will also require a 'play-off' but this time at the wrong end of the table, Cricketers and St Annes will be the two teams involved, both were defeated this week, St Annes went down to Elton Youth, whilst Cricketers were unlucky, losing by seven (179-186).

The losing team in this play-off game will join Ainsworth B in the fifth division, Swan Ladies won the nights long game against Greenmount, but both teams are promoted for next season anyway.

On Wednesday night, division fives closest game was played at Clarence Park, where The Dandler held on for a home win (115-112) over Radcliffe Boro A. The division also saw wins for Bury East B, Magpies and PJ Power, who finish their fixtures with the leagues only 10 per cent record.

The top of the division six is still in some confusion at this stage. Deardens and Maccabi A are currently in joint first place with 26 points each and will certainly be involved in another 'play-off situation. However, the plot thickens as Bury Rangers (24 points) still have two outstanding games, should they win them both they would have 28 points, however, 'The Rangers' have still to be 'docked' two points -- 26 points and a three way -play-off would be the end result. Tottington C went down to a surprise defeat against Radcliffe Boro B a result which excludes them from a four-way tie.

Division Seven's program had been virtually completed last week, but the first of three outstanding games ended on a win for Limefield C from Maccabi B no Wednesday.

The final game of this years interleague series with Bolton was staged at Elton Vale Road on Thursday.

Bury opened the batting but it was Bolton's first bowler who 'drew first blood' finding several early victims. However, Bury 'dug-in' and managed to 'steady the ship. A Kath Bond rounder forced Boltons first bowling change, at this stage Bury still had six batters in. However, Bury were given no relief by this second bowler and all too soon , Debbie Pearce and Donna Cuddy found themselves our last two remaining batters.

Kath Bond was Burys first bowler, she made a fair start but Bolton quickly rallied and began to build a tidy score, Linda Unsworth bolwed second she had two quick victims but no further success, Bury continued to ring the changes Joanne Cooper and Jill Neville also had a bowl before Kath Bond came back to finally bring the innings to a close. Half-time Bury 46, Bolton 107.

Bury second innings fared a little better, Kath Bond snd Sue Booth both hit maximums, with Liz Nabb and Jill Neville supporting well with a couple of 'threes' Yet Boltons fielding was again 'spot-on' and though Bury had done enough to force Bolton to bat again, it wasn't going to be for many.

Bury managed to salvage some pride, limiting Bolton to 62 in their second 'Knock'. But not only did this game go Boltons way, the overall series result was 5-3 to Bolton. Full time Bury lll, Bolton 169.

NOTICES: A full league meeting will be held at Bury Sports Club (Thursday, August 30), management at 7.15pm, general at 8.30pm.