LAST week most teams took a break from league matches in the Bolton and District Table Tennis League to play the cup quarter-finals – the Warburton Cup fourth round and the third round of the Divisional Cups.

In the Warburton Cup for all divisions, Division Two’s Hilton F made full use of their 125.5 points start in their match against Polonia Club A of Division One, as they ran out 437.5-382 winners.

In the Brian Gittins Cup for teams from the Premier Division and Division One, Farnworth Social Circle A conceded to give Flixton Cricket Club A a walkover into the semi-finals.

Wigan TTC only had 3.5 points start against Ladybridge A and won 352.5-337.

There has been some confusion regarding the new handicap system, based on a whole team's combined provisional rankings on the website.

While there have been many close results, there have also been some strange ones.

There has been speculation that teams playing others from a higher division, or have a large handicap to overcome, may give up.

This certainly did not apply in the quarter-finals won by Heaton Cricket Club A and Ramsbottom Town A.

Division One’s Heaton Cricket Club A had a 141.5 start against Premier Division side Radcliffe Cricket Club and just edged it 373.5-369.

If that was close, it was even more so when top Premier team Ramsbottom Town A were confronted by a Polonia Club A side with a 196.5 start.

Ramsbottom just hung on by the skin of their teeth to clinch a 399-397.5 victory.

In the George Yates Trophy for Divisions Two and Three, Farnworth Social Circle B were given a walkover into the semi-finals by fellow Division Two team Brasszone, who were unable to raise a side.

Division Two’s Bolton TTC, who appear to rise to the occasion in cup matches, played Hilton G who had a 62.5 points start, which they easily overcame in a 382-298.5 win.

Saint Paul’s Peel from Division Two had a 43.5 start against Heaton Cricket Club B from the same division.

It was just enough to swing the match in their favour as they won 361.5-338.

Polonia Club have had success with all their teams until this week.

Their last team standing, the B team were foiled by Meadow Ben B’s start of 46.5 which just enabled them to run out 345.5-337 winners.

With Division Three being slightly larger than the others there were still some league matches to complete.

Leaders Farnworth Social Circle C had a comfortable 27-6 victory over 11th-placed Hilton H.

Second-placed Meadow Hill A were frustrated somewhat by Albany and just edged the game 19-14, thanks to nine points from Roy Platt.

Snapping at their heels are Meadow Ben C who are now just two points behind after a 22-12 win against juniors Hilton I with nine points from Jack Berry.

Fourth-placed Polonia Club C beat bottom side Meadow Hill B 25-6 with nines from Henryk Michalowski and Karolina Mucha.

Fifth-placed Farnnworth Social Circle D had a good 25-8 victory over Hilton G with nines from Elena Cecilia Tepelus and Pete Walker.

Mid-table Meadow Ben D beat a Ladybridge C side two places below them 20-12 assisted by nine from Phillip Calvert.