IN the Birkenhead and Wirral first division, pre-season favourites Tixalls did not have a match last week but will have taken encouragement from the results of games played.

Though their two main rivals, Gladstone and Heswall RBL both won their home matches; Gladstone won very easily against Oxton Cons and Heswall beat Tixall 'B', the reverse games were quite different.

Oxton had a fairly comfortable win over a below par Gladstone and Tixall 'B' did their 'A' team a big favour by getting the better of Heswall. It is very early in the season but Gladstone and Heswall will have been very disappointed.

It was a fairly difficult week for the two promoted teams; Kings 2000 managed to win their home game but Lever 'B' lost home and away to New Brighton Quarry Vikings.

In the Wallasey Association first division New Brighton Queens Royal had a very close but very significant away win over long time champions West Kirby Victoria.

The teams were separated by just one point at the end of the game but the Queens Royal players will have been very happy with the result.

The Deeside team already face an uphill battle if they are to challenge for the title yet again.

In the Bebington League last year's champions, Gladstone, got off to a good start beating one of their main rivals, Tixall. In another match between two of the leading teams Heswall beat Oxton Cons, while last year's runners up, the Lever Club had a comfortable home win over Pensby.