RADCLIFFE CC retained the Macdonald Cup in a pulsating match against neighbours and eight-times winners Little Lever.

The pivotal point in a close match in the cup competition for First Division teams was the doubles when Graham Jeffries and Mick Dore secured a resounding win by 14 points overRonnie Durose and Ian McNicholas.

In the Poytress Cup final showdown for Division Two teams the Polish Catholic Club beat Prestwich B 544-527. Once again the doubles proved to be the key contest and Mick Hill and Eddie Kalinowski grabbed the lead by two points with victory over Alex Waring and Eddie Simon. The Polish Club eventually won thanks to Hill’s steady play against wearing in the final set.

Meanwhile, Stand’s team of Chris Sutcliffe, Dave Jackson and Paul Tatlock beat Elton Vale’s side of Keith Mills, Rodney Hall and Jim Bollard 563-507 in the Pressman Cup final for Division Three teams. Elsewhere, the Closed Championships have returned to Bury’s Castle Leisure Centre – after nan absence of 15 years – and an entry of 86 players provided a full day’s table tennis in 10 different events.

The finals night will take place on Tuesday, April 20, at Elton Vale sports club, where the juniors, over-40s, over-60s, doubles, and singles finals will take place, starting at 7pm.

The following players will play eachother in the finals: Juniors – Deane Clyne v Callum Stott; Over-40s – Mark Ramsbottom v Mick Dore; Over-60s – Dav Watmough v Tom Ryan; Doubles – Derek Watmough and Dennis Collier v Tony Bates and Tony Smith. Results: Division One – Gary Newton beat Steve Barber; Division Two – Dave Scowcroft beat Mark Reading; Division Three – Paul Carter beat Alan Meltzer; Division Four – Steve Evans beat Jim Eardley; Division Five – Alex Braid beat Dave Watts.

In the open singles, Gary Newton won through to the semi-final by beating Carol Mitchell, Steve McNiicholas and Ben Armstrong. Graham Jeffries beat Ken Hayes, Tony Bates and team-mate Mick Dore to secure his place in the semis.

Marek Maraszkiewicz, of the Grubba Fans Club had an excellent day, beating Lee Davenport, Dennis Collier and Derek Watmough to secure his place.

Team-mate Lukasz Serdiuk had an even better day, causing the upset of the event, by beating Mark Ramsbottom in the second round having already beaten Dave Bolton in the first. he then went on to beat Rob Wylie to reach the semis and will face his team-mate Maraszkiewicz while Jeffries and Newton will meet in the other.