DUE to the Easter Bank Holiday, there wasn't any action until last Tuesday evening.

In Division Three, there were away wins for Limefield 185-122, against Tottington A, and for All Saints A over Kings XI.

These two, along with Walshaw Ladies, are setting the early season pace with two wins from two matches. In the division's other games, Fishpool B won a close contest over Tottington B 193-176, while Nuttall Ladies put in a creditable performance before going down against the more experienced EFT 138-172.

The two Radcliffe-based sides lead the way in Division Four. High-scoring St Mary's C stormed to an impressive victory over Ainsworth TF 221-153, while neighbours Radcliffe Boro A, won a close encounter against The Dandler 201-193, both now have two wins from two games. Ainsworth B, Bury East B and Peelers are also unbeaten but each have only played one to date.

On Wednesday in Division Five, two newly promoted sides are among those creating an impression. Radcliffe Boro B made it two wins from two, returning from their trip to Goshen with a 199-143 success over Exodus. Tottington C stormed to an impressive innings victory over pre-season favourites, Walmersley Ladies. There was also a second successive victory to MD Ladies, and wins for Dearden's and Bury Sports.

In Division Six there were four away wins from its five games. Tile Base Ladies were the only exception, claiming a 138-105 home win against Whitefield Ladies. All Saints B and Elton Vale D both boast two straight wins, while Walshaw SC are undefeated but have only played once so far. Burns' Bowlers opened the season with a 121-181 score-line from Bury Felt C.

As usual, there were some high-scoring games in Division Seven. The closest game of the night resulted in a first league win for the newly formed, Wren Ladies 253-241, with Swan Ladies being the unlucky losers. Phoenix Ladies, Sundial Ladies and Redvales Juniors also won on the night.

There were no real shocks on Thursday in Division One. Fishpool A, Ramsbottom Ladies and Ainsworth A all won again and are showing why I consider them to be the main title contender. There was a close game at Elton Vale Road where the winning margin for Elton Vale A was just three points, 159-156, when Redvales A were the disappointed opponents. Elton Vale's B team were not so lucky, returning from their trip to Unsworth CC on the wrong side of a 129-103 score-line.

In Division Two, the first drawn game of the season came when Brock's XI B visited Belgrave Street and managed a 119-119 result against St Mary's B. The first all-Warth derby game resulted in a comfortable win for the A team, 138-86 and there were first wins of the season for Bury East A and Swan Ladies A.

by G. N. Jebb

Bury District League

RESULTS

DIVISION THREE

Kings XI 139, All Saints A 145(sis); Fishpool B 193, Tottington B 176; Tottington A 122, Limefield 185; Nuttall Ladies 138, EFT 172; Walshaw Ladies 142, Redvales C 116.

DIVISION FOUR

St Mary's C 221, Ainsworth TF 153; MSS 150, Bury East B 202; Peelers 138, Cricketers 127; Ainsworth B 224, Elton YC 151; Radcliffe Boro A 201, Dandler 193.

RE-ARRANGED DIVISION FIVE

TNT 101, St Anne's 135.

DIVISION FIVE

Exodus 143, Radcliffe Boro B 199; St Mary's D 157, Dearden's 184; Walmersley Ladies 102, Tottington C 105(ins); Bury Sports 223, TNT 158; St Anne's 151, MD Ladies 264.

DIVISION SIX

Tile Base Ladies 138, Whitefield Ladies 105; Elton Vale C 180, Walshaw SC 201; Man Maccabi 81, All Saints B 143; Oddballs 141, Elton Vale D 192; Bury Felt C 121, Burns' Bowlers 181.

DIVISION SEVEN

Phoenix Ladies 252(dec), Sunset Ladies 240; Sundial Ladies 219(ins), Brandlesholme 108; Redvales Jnrs 269(dec), Brock's XI Jnrs 136; Swan Ladies B 241, Wren Ladies 253.

RE-ARRANGED DIVISION THREE

All Saints A 112(ins), Fishpool B 107.

DIVISION ONE

Fishpool A 100(ins), Bury Felt A 68; Ramsbottom Ladies 119, Brock's XI A 105; Ainsworth A 118, St Mary's A 86; Elton Vale A 159, Redvales A 156; Unsworth CC 129, Elton Vale B 103.

DIVISION TWO

Warth A 138, Warth B 86; Bury West 101, Bury East A 128; St Mary's B 119, Brock's XI B 119; Bury Felt B 84, Swan Ladies A 120(ins).

RE-ARRANGED DIVISION SEVEN

Redvales Jnrs 401(ins), Brandlesholme RC 234.

FIXTURES

FIRST ROUND CUP MATCHES

MONDAY

ASHWORTH CUP

Ramsbottom Ladies v Warth A at Ramsbottom CC (J. Billington); Bury Felt B v Wellington at Seedfield (D. McPherson); Swan Ladies A v Ainsworth A at Tottington High (B. Hall); St Mary's B v Elton Vale B at Belgrave St (M. McManus); Bury Felt A v Elton Vale A at Seedfield (Jen Nancarrow); Fishpool A v St Mary's A at Derby (J. Hoyle); Warth B v Unsworth CC at King George (D. Mathews); Brock's XI B v Brock's XI A at Manchester Rd (S. McDermid).

TUESDAY

ORR SHIELD

All Saints A v St Mary's C at St Joseph's (J. Cowgill); Nuttall Ladies v Radcliffe Boro A at Nuttall Park (D. McPherson); Bury East B v Ainsworth TF at St Paul's CP (K. Anderton); Cricketers v Tottington A at Clarence (M. McCaffrey); ETF v MSS at Clarence (S. Davenport); Walshaw Ladies v Limefield at Elton Junior (G. Chambers); Peelers or Fishpool B v Kings XI, venue to be advised (S. Orzel); Tottington B v Dandler at Town Meadows (K. Gisbourne).

WEDNESDAY

ABBOTT CUP

Walmersley Ladies v Bury Felt C at St Joseph's (C. Jones); St Anne's v Tottington C at Tottington St Anne's (J. Howells); Dearden's v Bury Sports at Bury Sports (D. Leach); TNT v Burns' Bowlers at Nuttall Park (P. Goody); Elton Vale D v M.D. Ladies at Elton Vale Rd (M. Street); Radcliffe Boro B v Tile Base Ladies at Close Park (M. Lees); Exodus v St Mary's D at Goshen (L. Sleight); Walshaw SC v Whitefield Ladies at Walshaw SC (K. Chadwick).

LOMAX CUP

Chesham Fold v Phoenix Ladies at St Joseph's (E. Johnson); Redvales Juniors v Sunset Ladies at Newbank (F. Rivers); Brandlesholme RC v Wren Ladies at Cannon Lewis (Mrs J. Holt); Westdene Ladies v Swan Ladies B at Outwood Road (K. Bentley).

SUNDAY APRIL 25

DIVISION SEVEN

Chesham Fold v Westdene Ladies at St Joseph's, 12pm.

THURSDAY APRIL 29

DIVISION SEVEN

Brock's XI Jnrs v Swan Ladies B at Manchester Rd (A.N. Other).

DIVISION FOUR

Bury East B v Peelers at St Paul's (K. Bentley).

ONES TO WATCH

MONDAY: Fishpool A v St Mary's A -- Fishpool start as strong favourites but could the Saints spring a surprise?

TUESDAY: All Saints A v St Mary's C -- top teams of Divisions three and four in this cup clash.

WEDNESDAY: Elton Vale D v M.D. Ladies -- the youngsters of Elton Vale get the chance to measure themselves against Division Five opposition.

With the re-arranged games on Sunday 25 and Thursday 29, there is plenty to watch this week.