THE first league matches of the second half of the season in the Bury District Table Tennis League produced much closer results than is the norm in Division One, with 7-3 being the widest margin of victory.

The winners were Ramsbottom C over Location, despite Graham Jeffries' three wins for Location; Prestwich A over Ramsbottom D, with Simon Abraham winning a treble for Prestwich, and Mosses A against St Philip's A, with Andy Kaye winning all his three.

YMCA Sports A moved further away from the relegation area with a 6-4 win at Carlton Club A, thanks to the two Brennands -- George and Harry who both scored trebles. Top-of-the-table Ramsbottom A needed Michael Moir to win all his three at second placed Little Lever, and this treble helped the leaders to a 6-4 win.

The other match in the top division between Ramsbottom B and Cricketers, ended all-square with Graham Hoy winning three for Ramsbottom.

Mosses B consolidated their position at the top of Division Two with a fine 9-1 victory over third placed, Carlton Club B, to take them nine points clear at the top of the division.

This moved Carlton B down a place to be overtaken by Ramsbottom E, who also had a fine win by 8-2 away to Prestwich D.

Second placed Seedfield did just enough to retain second spot by winning 6-4 away to Maccabi, even though Jeff Ingber kept his spot at the top of the individual table by beating David Poytress 21-18 in the final game of the match.

In Division Three, Claybank continued their winning ways with a 7-3 victory away to YMCA Sports B, with Graham Daniels scoring three wins to give his team a five-point lead at the top of the division.

Chris Sutcliffe also won three for Unsworth but his team could only manage a draw away to Elton Vale A. Another treble winner to end on the losing side was Wayne Ellis, whose team Red Hall were beaten 6-4 by Carlton Club D.

Both Les Suss and Ellis Pressman were undefeated for Maccabi B as they beat Prestwich E 8-2.

Seedfield Meths B matched on at the top of Division Four and the only surprising thing about their 8-2 victory, was that they actually dropped two points to third from bottom, Maccabi D,

The Seedfield C team also won by 6-4, away to ELPM B. Elton Vale B kept their second position with a 6-4 victory away to BGSOB C, despite Matthew Gaunt's three wins for the Grammar School.

Their team-mates in the B team -- Barry Warburton and Peter Gregory, also won trebles as their team had an 8-2 win at home to Holmar B.

The two teams at the top of the Division Five both had fine wins with Seedfield beating ELPM C 9-1, and Prestwich F won against Holmar but with one less point gained. This gives Seedfield a three-point lead at the top of the table over their rivals.

The other game in Division Five between BGSOB D and Seedfield Meths E ended all square with Keith Stott winning all his three sets for Seedfield.

Next meeting of the management committee has been re-arranged for Tuesday, January 21 in the Maccabi club room, Bishops Road, Sedgley Park, 7.30pm.

DIVISION ONE

Little Lever 4, Ramsbottom A 6; Carlton Club A 4, YMCA Sports A 6; Location 3, Ramsbottom C 7; Mosses TTC A 7, St Philip's A 3; Ramsbottom B 5, Cricketers 5; Ramsbottom D 3, Prestwich TTC A 7.

TOP TEN -- 34: M. Moir (Ramsbottom); 29: J. Chadwick and M. Dore (Cricketers); 27: G. Jeffries (Location); 25: D. Newton and G. Hey (Ramsbottom); 23: S. Abraham (Prestwich), P. Riley (Little Lever); 21: G. Payne (Little Lever); 20: G. Brennand (YMCA Sports).

DIVISION TWO

Mosses TTC B 9, Carlton Club B 1; Maccabi A 4, Seedfield Meths A 6; St Philip's B 6, Adelphi 4; Prestwich TTC B 9, Carlton Club C 1; Prestwich TTC D 2, Ramsbottom E 8.

TOP TEN -- 28: J. Ingber (Maccabi), D. Buckley (Ramsbottom); 26: D. Poytress (Seedfield); 25: V. Croft (Mosses); 23: M. Reading (Carlton); 22: I. Boyle (Mosses); 21: K. Hayes (Adelphi); 20: B. Goodman (Prestwich), D. Smith (Mosses), A. Bamford (Carlton).

DIVISION THREE

Elton Vale A 5, Unsworth CC 5; Carlton Club D 6, Red Hall 4; Maccabi B 8, Prestwich TTC E 2; YMCA Sports B 3, Claybank 7.

TOP TEN -- 28: C. Sutcliffe (Unsworth); 24: M. Nicholls (Claybank); 23: D. Hall (Elton Vale), G. Daniels (Claybank); 22: D. Jackson (Unsworth); 21: W. Ellis (Red Hall); 20: E. Pressman (Maccabi); 19: S. Greaves (ELPM); 17: L. Suss (Maccabi); 16: G. Crowther (BGSOB).

DIVISION FOUR

ELPM B 4, Seedfield Meths C 6; Seedfield Meths B 8, Maccabi D 2; BGSOB B 8, Holmar B 2; BGSOB C 4, Elton Vale B 6.

TOP TEN -- 30: J. Nuttall (Seedfield); 25: S. Siddall (Seedfield); 24: B. Shaw (Elton Vale); 32: B. Warburton (BGSOB), A. Hamilton (Seedfield); 20: B. Cohen and D. Sheldon (Maccabi), J. Edge (ELPM); 17: P. Ingham (Seedfield).

DIVISION FIVE

Seedfield Meths D 9, ELPM C 1; Holmar C 2, Prestwich TTC F 8; BGSOB D 5, Seedfield Meths E 5.

TOP TEN -- 30: P. McKinstry (Prestwich); 25: A. Fletcher (Elton Vale), A. Telfer (Seedfield); 23: A. Simpson (Seedfield); 21: P. Cooper (Seedfield); 20: A. Hodgert (Elton Vale), K. Stott (Seedfield); 19: G. Wardle (Holmar).