WITH the Division One title virtually secure, the players of Ramsbottom Town A began the cup final week with a possibility of gaining a treble, if they could add the Dwyer Cup and the MacDonald Cup to their silverware haul.

Another team to be found in two finals was Prestwich A, who were trying to turn around last year's results when they reached the finals of both the Dwyer Cup and League Cup, Section One, only to be beaten in both events.

The St Monica's A team, which had won the Dwyer Cup last year, was to be found in the final of the Poytress Cup this year, with the common link of Joe Walk being a member of both teams.

Jim Bloomfield of the Carlton Club had been a losing finalist of the League Cup in 1998-9 and 1996-7, while being on a winning side for the Dwyer Cup in 1996-7.

MACDONALD CUP FINAL

played at ELPM

RAMSBOTTOM TOWN A...9

RAMSBOTTOM TOWN B...0

While the result appears to show a one-sided match, the standard of play was exceptionally high with both teams not expecting to win games easily. The A team were on top form and Michael Moir showed why he is the reigning Bury singles champion, with a display of controlled hard hitting. Howard Leigh, recently returned from a several season retirement, and himself a former singles champion, came closest to winning a match, but eventually a 9-0 win was secured by the A team and a second trophy in their quest for the treble.

LEAGUE CUP

SECTION TWO FINAL

played at Prestwich TTC

RED HALL...5

ELPM B...4

The Red Hall team, which had won their trophy in 1995-6 and been beaten finalists in 1998-9, had, in Wayne Ellis, a player who had played in all these finals. The match was a very closely fought event with Red Hall never being behind, after Ellis beat John Edge in a close first match of the evening. This was probably the deciding game of the match in that the rest of the results went according to form, and eventually, after being ahead 4-2, Red Hall were pulled back to 4-4 and Ellis had to beat Peter Dillon for the match and trophy. This he did in two straight games and the Red Hall team regained the trophy.

PORTRESS CUP FINAL

Played at Bolton Road Sports Club

ST MONICA'S A...5

PRESTWICH E...4

The St Monica's team had a five-point advantage in each game, due to being a Fourth Division team and playing against a Third Division team. However, as the match unfolded, it was the Prestwich team which won the earlier games with Brian Clayton on top form and winning his first two games, both at deuce in the third game, to take Prestwich into a 3-1 lead. St Monica's pulled back to 3-3 before Clayton won his third game of the night against Ross Barton and Prestwich went into a 4-3 lead. Joe Walk equalised by beating Peter Kent, which meant that Peedar McKinstry played Alan Meltzer for the trophy. Peadar took control early in the game and won in straight games, to give the St Monica's A team their first Poytress Cup.

DWYER CUP FINAL

Played at St Philip's

RAMSBOTTOM TOWN A...7

PRESTWICH A...2

In order to complete the treble, Ramsbottom Town had to beat the Prestwich A team, conceding eight points in each game. The Second Division team got off to a flyer when Paul Leonard beat Michael Moir in three games, which was followed by Eddie Simon beating Mark Ramsbottom, again in three games. When David Palmer took the first game off Andy Jackson it was possible for Prestwich to take a 3-0 lead, but Jackson fought back to win the event and bring Ramsbottom back into the match. This was followed by several close games, with the Division One team showing their class with some heavy controlled hitting, and winning the next six games to take the match by 2-2 and completing the treble.

LEAGUE CUP

SECTION ONE FINAL

Played at Ramsbottom Town

CARLTON CLUB B...5

PRESTWICH A...4

The teams had already played twice this season with the last game being only ten days ago when Prestwich won by 8-2. However, on this occasion, the Carlton Club were never led after Jim Bloomfield beat Eddie Simon in the first game. Carlton went into a 3-1 lead, which almost became 4-1 when John Foster was within a point of beating David Palmer in the third game. Palmer recovered from this to take the event and reduce the deficit to 2-3. With Mark Reading winning the next game, Carlton led 4-2 but Prestwich were to win the next two games to level the match score at 4-4.

Carlton's hero on the night was Jim Bloomfield who easily beat Paul Leonard in two straight games, and win the cup for his club. This left Prestwich A beaten in two finals on consecutive days, in a similar position as last year when they also reached two finals and lost them both.

Players are reminded that entries for the Bury and District Table Tennis League Closed Championships closes on April 1, and should be sent to David Ternent as soon as possible. This year's preliminary rounds are to be played at the Hilton Centre, Horwich, on Sunday, April 8, starting 10am.