ACCRINGTON Falcons bounced back in style from two consecutive defeats in Division Three to outplay Roefield C and dominate their match in all areas.

With the league season now breaking for Christmas, many teams seem to have settled on their current positions in the tables, some now have little realistic chance of tasting silverware.

The visitors did put up a good fight particularly in the mixed doubles by taking two of the events, but in the level doubles they were never in with a chance. This win by the Falcons confirms their position at the top of the table.

Elsewhere, College seem to be following their normal form by starting the season well and then falling behind. This season is no exception as St Nicholas B made sure of their win.

At the foot of the table Independent C earned a well-deserved win over bottom side YMCA D, although they had to fight hard to secure a victory. As a result of this match both sides scored some valuable bonus points and both have now climbed up the table.

Division Three saw a close match between home side Whitehall and Prince. This turned out to be a tactical match with both sides rather anxious of each other. In the end Prince managed to force a win 9-7, although the home side were a little unhappy about this. In the various Cup competitions, details are still being worked out. Pleckgate and Prince have decided that they will not be taking part in these competitions, and the management committee are sorry that they have taken this decision, but the rules do allow for any club to withhold their entry.

Once again the Cup competitions will be divided into three tournaments, with the Times Cup having two pools of five teams. The Smith Cup having four pools of five teams and the Wilson Plate having two pools of six teams. The final stages of the competitions will be on a knockout basis with the finals being played in the first week of May 2000. Further details will be sent to all club secretaries as soon as possible.

The various tournaments held over the past week were well received. There was a larger entry in the Mixed Doubles than for many years and this was encouraging to see. The new tournament secretary Mike Mitson was well pleased with the way in which the event was played and it is only thanks to him that all the tournament finals finished on time. Plans are already in hand for the next tournament and these details can be found in the handbook.

Results - Division One: Independent A 7-150(10), YMCA A 9-187(12). Division Two: Telecom B 9-217(13), Abacus 7-182(10); Stanhill B 11-213(15), YMCA C 5-176(8).

Division Three: Whitehall 7-179(10), Prince 9-199(12).

Division Four: College 6-166(9), St Nicholas B 10-188(13); Independent C 12-218(16), YMCA D 4-153(7); Accrington Falcons 13-233(17), Roefield C 3-140(5).

Division Five: Phoenix 7-155(10), St Matthew's 7-134(9).

Tournaments - Handicap B Men's Singles (semi-finals): M Perkins bt J Riley 21-17; R Smith bt B Shorrock 21-15. Final: R Smith bt M Perkins 21-14.

Handicap B Ladies Singles (semi-finals): A Ayub bt L Wiltshire 21-19; J MacEwan bt C Moro 21-16. Final: A Ayub bt J MacEwan 21-17.

Handicap B Men's Doubles (semi-finals): H Parry and G Perkins bt C Westwell and G Mallinson 21-13; R Smith and M Perkins bt N Howarth and D Meehan 21-14. Final: H Parry and G Perkins bt R Smith and M Perkins 21-13. Handicap B Ladies Doubles (semi-finals): C Smitton and J MacEwan bt K Gibson and L Hunt 21-16; J Duckworth and C Moro bt G Carter and P Alderson 21-9. Final: J Duckworth and C Moro bt C Smitton and J MacEwan 21-13.

Handicap A Ladies Doubles (semi-finals): C Parry and J Bates bt C Tretheway and C Cronshaw 21-20; D Vines and H Ashton b L Cannon and K Robinson 21-15. Final: C Parry and J Bates bt D Vines and H Ashton 21-16.

Handicap A Men's Doubles (semi-finals): M Mitson and K Ashton bt M Meadows and P Ainger 21-17; P Hope and A Malik bt S Bamber and G Robinson 21-20. Final: M Mitson and K Ashton bt P Hope and A Malik 21-10.

Handicap A Men's Singles (semi-finals): S Bamber bt P Hope; A Malik bt M Austin. Final: A Malik bt S Bamber 21-13.

Handicap A Ladies Singles winner: D Vines.

Handicap A Mixed Doubles (semi-finals): P Ainger and L Burrill bt G Morris and L Perkins 21-15; K Ashton and D Vines bt S Pym and C Smitton 21-13. Final: K Ashton and D Vines bt P Ainger and L Burrill 21-16.

Handicap B Mixed Doubles (semi-finals): L Walker and K Haworth bt G Howarth and R Hudson 21-16; C Tomlinson and J Frankland bt G Pimberton and J MacEwan 21-9. Final: C Tomlinson and J Frankland bt L Walker and K Haworth.

Fixtures - Opening matches for Cup competitions week beginning January 10, 2000 - Times Cup: Independent A v Brockhall; Stanhill A v YMCA B; Roefield A v St Philip's; YMCA A v Telecom A.

Smith Cup: Olympic A v ST Nicholas B; Tag v Abacus; St Nicholas A v Roefield B; Avondale v Stanhill B; Westholme v Aztec; YMCA C v Mount Carmel; Roefield C v YMCA D; Blackburn Juniors A v Independent B.

Wilson Plate: Independents C v Blackburn Juniors B; Telecom B v Westholme WL; Blackburn Blinds v Salesbury B; Phoenix v St Matthews; Olympic B v Olympic C; Roefield LC v Roefield D.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.