In the first round of the handicapped Divisional Cups the new points scoring system was employed resulting in some close matches and others not so close.
Brian Gittins Cup
Only two matches played in the Brian Gittins Cup for Premier and Division One teams, the rest of the teams receiving byes. Premier Division team St Catherine’s A represented by Charles Musa, Pavel Orzechowski and Bill Russell gave the top team in Division One Heaton A 21 points start and came out on top winning by 33 points. Steve Barber and Paul & Matt Ward played for Heaton. In the all Division One clash Little Lever C left themselves in an impossible position by only fielding two players, and the Ladybridge A trio of Dave Bolton, Craig Bradbury and Lee Davenport recorded a very comfortable win.
George Yates Shield
Seven matches played., and nine teams received byes in the George Yates Shield for Second and Third Division teams. Heaton D won a very close match with fellow Second Division team BEN A, their three players Alan Crompton, Bill Fairhurst and John Scowcroft recorded a 12 point victory over Mike Heaton, John Dodd and Phil Calvert for BEN who received 21 points start. Second Division Hilton D gave Division Three Farnworth SC 56 points start and came out on top, winning by 35 points. Hilton were represented by Alan Bradshaw, Gary Hilton and Barry Walsh The Farnworth team included John Kofi, John Ainley and John Rothwell. Brian Greenhalgh, John Cole and sub Andy Scully from the Division Two team Ladybridge B, recorded a 45 point victory over Malcolm Wilcock, Tony Mason and Alan Revell of Hilton H from Division Three. Again a second division team came out on top when the Hilton C trio of Chris Naylor, Roger Bertrand and John Barker beat their F team from division three by 64 points, with Brian and Barek Young and Gary Hibbert playing for the F team Farnworth TTC A from division two proved to strong for third division team St Catherine’s E. Their team of Rene Seidel, Graham Clayborough and junior player Krishna Chauhan winning by 74 points. The Farnworth team was Roy Alty, and juniors Arron Waring and Beth Farnworth. Top team in division three St Catherine’s D, beat the bottom team in that division Ladybridge C by a massive 136 points despite giving the Ladybridge team 63 points start. They fielded their regular team of Debbie Wilson, Stuart McCaig and Ben Dudley, with Andy Scully, Colin Gregory and Robin Llewellyn playing for Ladybridge. Frank Green, Chris Higson and Steve Woods of second division Heaton E had a very comfortable 91 points win over third division Irlam Steel who only fielded two players.
Ron Hindle Memorial Trophy
In this competition for Division Four teams, two matches were played a third was conceded and five teams received byes. Hilton I went through on a concession received from Heaton G. The Lads Club A team of Craig Duncan, Josh Sandford and Chris Ahmed beat the Hilton J trio of Minh Le, Andy Morey and Jeff Thomas by 19 points, making good use of the 14 points start they received. The Hilton K juniors Max Maybury, Thomas Rotherham and Matthew Fishwick entertained Brass but, their 14 points start was far from enough as they lost by 90 points. The Brass team was Ola Atinola, San Thien and Abdwali Ali
Results
Brian Gittins Cup
Ladybridge A beat L Lever C
St Catherine’s A beat Heaton A
George Yates Shield
Ladybridge B bt Hilton H
Hilton C bt Hilton F
Farnworth TTC A bt St Cath’s E
Heaton E bt Irlam
St Cath’s D bt Ladybridge C
Heaton D bt BEN A
Hilton D bt Farnworth SC
Ron Hindle Memorial Trophy
Lads Club A bt Hilton J
Brass bt Hilton K
Hilton I w/o.