CASTLE Private A staged a remarkable recovery to defeat guests Wharton Cons A – their direct rivals to win the Mid-Cheshire Ladies’ League title – last Tuesday.

The Winsford outfit appeared on course to avenge a defeat on their own green in April when they established a 38-chalks advantage after winning five of the first six blocks.

However Katie Harrop, Kathy Chadwick, Emma Earlam and Annie Jones returned winning cards in the remaining head-to-heads to secure victory – their side’s 12th of the campaign – by a single point on aggregate.

Castle are now favourites to finish first for a second successive season.

Elsewhere in the top flight, Winnington improved their chances of avoiding relegation by beating Bunbury away from home.

Sarah Linegar (21-4) was the pick of their five winners in a slender 161-159 success.

Lady Owls A were the section’s leading scorers, dropping a single chalk during a comfortable home win against Good Companions A.

Sylvia Martin and Jane Wingfield (both 21-7) were their best performers.

The leading teams in Division Two both lost.

Hartford succumbed to promotion-rivals Bostock by a narrow two-point margin on aggregate, but second-placed Davenham failed to take advantage after going down by 25 at Rudheath.