SALE and District Bowls League division one frontrunners Levenshulme were reminded it would be a long season when they were beaten by 16 chalks at Fallowfield.

Reigning champions Cringlewood A slipped into second place with a big win over South West A, while Chorlton climbed out of the basement position as their first win of the season dumped Roebuck into bottom slot.

Pickering stayed on top of division two after victory at Partington while Brooklands had a 39-chalk success over Nursery who drop into the wooden spoon position.

Cringlewood B are also keeping in touch at the top with a 23-chalk win at South West B.

Results

Division one: Cringlewood A 195, South West A 146; Chorlton 173, Roebuck 129; Trinity 180, Bowling Green 168; Fallowfield 178, Levenshulme 162.

Division two: Brooklands 180, Nursery 141; South West B 160, Cringlewood B 183; Longsight 172, Carrington 176; Longford 173, Sale Cons 146; Partington 151, Pickering 195.

League placings

Division one Levenshulme 192; Cringlewood A 185; Fallowfield 182; Crescent 174; South West A 167; Trinity 164; Bowling Green 161; Chorlton 150; Roebuck 147.

Division two: Pickering 189; Brooklands 184; Cringlewood B 174; South West B 172; Longsight 171; Sale Cons 161; Partington 157; Carrington Spur 156; Longford 156; Nursery 153.

The annual Eric Dale Pairs will now be restricted to a one-day competition which will take place at the Bowling Green, Chorlton, on June 7.

The Lloyds Hotel had another big win as they crushed St Josephs 12-1.5 and 204-155 to stay top of the Goodies Manchester Premier League.

South Manchester RBL had to work hard for a 9-6, 191-161 win over Nursery.