HOT COTT battered Punch into submission. And Royal Oak have the scent of success in Leigh & District Amateur Football League's Davenport Cup.

They powered into the semis with a 7-0 thumping of poor Punch Bowl with four goals for strike star Paul Cottrell.

Also into the Last Four are Union A after a 4-2 win against Second Division Ross's. Paul Monaghan and Lee Johnson hit doubles for the winners, Alan Lomas and Craig Guest hit singles for the losers.

Church Inn needed extra-time to get rid of Union Arms B. They were leading 3-0 with goals from Dean Hampson, Dave Morris plus a super 35-yard chip from Stephen Brooks. Arms battled back to square it via Paul Valentine, Dale Evans and Craig Carter - but Brooks' second settled it.

Leigh Eagles A, unbeaten in all competition since October 5, KO'd determined New Inn Rangers with goals from Clinton Andrews 2, Dave Robinson and Antony Hamilton 2. Ian Rushworth pulled one back.

In Division One Higher Fold Village Inn go top after a 9-1 win against bottom club Rileys - who led momentarily with a Matthew Francis free kick on five minutes.

For 20 minutes a shock was on the cards. Then came the deluge. Goals from Neil Clayton 3, Kevin Harris 2, Geoff Myers 2, Phil Aldred and Warren Knowles.

Alan Litherland scored his 44th and 45th goals of the season as Blue Lion won 3-1 at Three Crowns.

Westleigh Village Club lost at home for only the second time this season, 4-3 against Queens. On top target were Pete Marland 2, Colin Hart and Alan Smallman with Gary Peachey and Steve Anderton 2 making up the reply.

In Division Two Corbett Brewery scored three goals for the second straight week - but failed to win.

Goals from Gary McDonald, Andy Hardman and Jason Hardman were matched by Ian Foy 2 and Ian Heyes in a 3-3 draw with St Gabriel's.

Butchers' 0-0 draw at Leigh Eagles B may have cost the the title.

They remain second behind Church Inn who need only six points from six games to clinch the championship.

Leigh Victoria beat Concert Rovers 4-1 with James Taylor, Neil Anderson 2 and Kevin Davies on the mark, John Battersby getting one back.

Final home game of the season for Leigh Phoenix who blasted Britannia 9-2 (that after it was 2-2 at the interval with the Brits - pointless and bottom - bravely hanging on).

Phoenix scorers were Neil Thompson 3, Dennis Hilton 4, Neil Atherton and Wayne Pitchford made it nine.

But the game was marred by a broken leg for Phoenix star Paul Rampling.

RESULTS - Davenport Cup, quarter-finals: Church Inn 4 Union Arms B 3 (aet), Punch Bowl 0 Royal Oak 7, New Inn Rangers 1 Leigh Eagles A 5, Union Arms A 4 Ross's Wanderers 2. Division One: HF Village Inn 9 Rileys 1, Three Crowns 1 Blue Lion 3, Westleigh Village 3 Queens 4. Division Two: Corbett Brewery 3 St Gabriel's 3, Leigh Eagles B 0 Butchers Arms 0, Leigh Phoenix 9 Britannia 2, Leigh Victoria 4 Concert Rovers 1.

FIXTURES (all 2pm) - Carl Brown Memorial Trophy, Group A: HF Village Inn v Punch Bowl, Westleigh Village v Leigh Eagles A; Group B: Three Crowns v Queens (at Lodge Lane), Royal Oak v Rileys. Division One: Union Arms A v Blue Lion. Division Two: Corbett Brewery v Leigh Phoenix, Leigh Eagles B v Concert Rovers, Ross's Wanderers v St Gabriel's.

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