LAST week heralded the first round matches in the Bury Table Tennis League's Poytress and MacDonald Cup.

This season the Poytress Cup is played for by teams from the third, fourth and fifth divisions, whilst first and second division teams compete for the MacDonald Cup. All matches are played using the new handicap system and are played to 21-up.

POYTRESS CUP

Although there were several 5-4 results, none of the matches were decided on the last set of the match. Both ELPM A and B teams lost 5-4, the A team to BGSOB B of Division Four, who had a nine start, and the B team to Seedfield Meths D who had the advantage of just one point.

The club's C and D teams fared no better, the C team also going down 5-4 to last season's winners, Elton Vale A, despite a ten point advantage and the D team losing 6-3 away to Seedfield Meths B.

Elton Vale B just failed to join their A team in the next round going down 5-4 to Maccabi D with six of the nine sets going to a third deciding game. Elton Vale C also went out at the first round, losing 8-1 away to Seedfield Meths C.

They were the third Seedfield team to progress through to Round Two but unfortunately they will not be joined by their E or F teams who went down 2-7 to Carlton Club C and 9-0 to Shawfield A respectively.

Maccabi teams suffered at the hands of Holmar with the C team losing 7-2 to Holmar A and the B team 8-1 to Holmar B, both Holmar teams using their handicap to good effect but although the C team had an 11 point advantage against Prestwich D they went down 8-1. The D team though will carry the hopes of the Club as the F team lost 7-2 to Claybank whilst the E team went down 8-1 to Shawfield B from Division Five and Shawfield C made it three out three for their Club with a 6-3 win away to YMCA Sports of Division Three.

New Club, Walshaw SC's interest in the Poytress Cup is over for another season. Although Steve Richardson won two of his sets against Stand CC, the third division players were too strong for the others and they lost the match 7-2, the B team went down by the same scoreline to BGSOB A who join their B team in the next round.

MACDONALD CUP

There were no great surprises in the first round of the MacDonald Cup, with Carlton B beating their Division Two rivals, Prestwich C 6-3, even though Prestwich had the slight advantage of a handicap of one point.

Mark Reading was undefeated for the winners.

The Prestwich A team also had a one point advantage against Burning Desire B, and although they fared just slightly better they just failed to go through to the next round, going down 5-4, but the match was settled before the ninth set.

The all Division One tie between Radcliffe CC and Hilton Bury was won 6-3 by Radcliffe CC, but Hilton were not helped by the fact that they only had two players.

St Philips A from Division Two had a six point start against Little Lever from Division One, but it was not enough with Little Lever taking the first five sets of the match to secure the tie before St Philips got on the scoresheet. The match ended 7-2 to Little Lever.

The draw for the second round of the MacDonald and Poytress Cups has been made. Matches are to be played during the week commencing January 31 and the draw is as follows:

MACDONALD CUP - ROUND TWO

Matches to be played during week commencing January 31

Carlton Club A v Adelphi (6); Ramsbottom Town B v Prestwich TTC B (8); Maccabi A (5) v Burning Desire B; Hamer (8) v Radcliffe CC; Seedfield Meths A v Ramsbottom Town C (5); Ramsbottom Town A v Burning Desire A (2); Carlton Club B (8) v Little Lever CC; Ramsbottom Town D v St Philips B (2).

POYTRESS CUP - ROUND TWO

Matches to be played during week commencing January 31

Prestwich TTC D v Claybank (2); Shawfield A v Shawfield C (6); Seedfield Meths C (6) v Stand CC; BGSOB A v Seedfield Meths D (6); Holmar B v Shawfield B (7); Holmar A (6) v Seedfield Meths B; Carlton Club C v Maccabi D (3); Elton Vale A v BGSOB B (9).

If there are any problems concerning these cup fixtures and the need to re-arrange, Club Secretaries are asked to contact the secretary or the Match secretary.