WHAT had looked like a considerable lead at the top of the Bolton League Second XI Premiership for Westhoughton a couple of weeks has now been whittled down to just three points by Farnworth Social Circle, with Heaton just one further point away and Bradshaw a point behind them.

Social Circle took full advantage of Westhoughton and Heaton both losing as they cruised to a very comfortable nine-wicket win at struggling Blackrod.

The home side, who remain rock bottom of the table, batted first and were shot out by some excellent bowling by Jess Bradley (5-24) and Joshua Roscoe (4-8).

It was only thanks to the efforts of Matt Baty (26) and Charlie Fletcher (23) that they reached 84.

An unbeaten 37 from Michael Knight soon saw off the run chase.

Bradshaw got themselves back into contention with a 46-run win against fellow challengers Heaton at The Rigbys.

With the game reduced to 36 overs Bradshaw posted a very useful 188-6 as Matthew Gregory (46), Jordan Evans (35), Daisy Mullen (34 not out) and Elliott Dargen (32) all made good contributions.

Evans then starred with the ball, taking 4-44 to help dismiss Heaton for 142 in reply, with Ryan Tierney (47) and Jake Corrigan (27) providing the main resistance.

Westhoughton suffered a second successive defeat in the league as Kearsley got the upper hand with a six-wicket win at St George's.

Chasing 144, Kearsley lost three quick wickets before Daniel Robinson (52no) and Abishek Karigowda (59) turned the game on its head with a stand that saw them clinch a win with four overs to spare.

Earlier, Kai Hodgkiss had carried his bat to make 65, with useful support from Charlie Honour (22) and Chris Trow (23) taking Westhoughton to 143-4.

Farnworth warmed up for the Birtwistle Cup final with a five-wicket win against Horwich RMI in a game reduced to 28 overs.

Horwich batted first and posted 125-5, with Daniel Hunt (33), Daniel Hornby (38no) and Darren Wilson (28) providing the bulk of the runs.

Michael Daley led the run chase with a superb unbeaten 79 and, despite Phil Cavill taking 3-27, Farnworth got home with nine balls to spare.

Astley Bridge were also comfortable winners as they got the better of Daisy Hill to record an eight-wicket success.

Daisy Hill batted first and although Sam Barlow made 28 and Mayank Patel 21, they struggled against the Bridge bowlers, Naz Patel in particular with 4-30, and reached 114-9 in their 40 overs.

Ady Cooper, with 51, and Bilal Khan (30no) helped make light of the chase as Bridge eased home with 13 overs to spare.

The top three in the Association Division are now pulling well clear of the chasing pack with just five points separating Darcy Lever at the top from third-placed Eagley, with Little Hulton sandwiched in between them.

Darcy Lever kept their lead thanks to a six-wicket triumph against a depleted Golborne side.

Farooq Hussain made a battling 52 and Tom Kelly and Ben Lyon chipped in, but Golborne could only muster 111-9 as Adeel Hanif grabbed 5-36.

Jamie Foster took 3-25, but with Callum Waring hitting 55 and Nav Khan 26no, Darcy eased home in 24 overs.

Little Hulton stayed second by virtue of a very comfortable 10-wicket win at Adlington in a game that lasted just 32 overs in total.

Adlington simply had no answer to their bowling, led by Neil Jarvis, who took 3-14, and collapsed to just 29 all out with a top score of eight and five batsmen out for ducks.

Roger Kumah’s 22no helped his side get home inside just six overs.

Third-placed Eagley kept up their challenge as they swept aside Walkden by 84 runs.

Having rattled up an impressive 195-8 they then proceeded to restrict their visitors to just 111-9 in reply.

Thomas Gaskill played something of a lone hand as he made 54, but Michael Craig (4-21) and Danny Counsell (4-18) proved too much for the rest of the order.

Louis Seigne (42), Daniel Burke (32) and Harry Jackson (33no) made the bulk of their 195, with Oliver Gaskill taking 3-6.

Danny Cockton provided a little bit of history as he made the first century on Lostock’s new ground at Chew Moor and helped his side to a 131-run win against Little Lever.

Cockton made a superb 121, adding more than 100 for the first wicket with Ryan Crombie, who made 36, as Lostock made 200-8, despite Jon Pendlebury battling hard to take 5-51.

Darren Parr then proved too much for the villagers, taking 6-29 and with Will Berry backing him up well with 3-14 Lever made just 69.

Atherton got the better of Tonge by four wickets at Higham Park after an excellent spell of 6-16 from David Baines had helped dismiss them for 101.

Nigel Partington (29) and Cory Schofield (20) were the only batsmen to make any real impression.

Atherton had to work hard to get their runs but Michael Tomlinson (27no) and Rob Harper (21) made sure they got the required runs.

Sunday’s Birtwistle Cup final had thrown up a local derby with Farnworth hosting neighbours Farnworth Social Circle at Lavender Road and it was the home side that came out on top with a six-wicket win.

Chasing a target of 144 Farnworth collected the cup with 16 overs to spare.

Michael Daley led the chase with 49no, with Peter Eccles (38) and Matthew Hicks (26) providing solid support.

Man-of-the-match Hicks had also starred with the ball, taking 5-29 as he and Shujat Ali (3-26) combined to dismiss Social Circle for 144.

Liam Ashworth (37), Andrew Waring (26) and Christian Walsh (25) all made useful scores, but 144 proved to be well short of par on the day.