ROUNDERS: The summer season wound down last week with section play-offs and the delayed Intermediate Interleague.

The interleague clash on Radcliffe Cricket Club attracted a good crowd and was one of the closest of the series.

Bury made a good start, losing just one batter (caught out) on the first round, but two who failed to score safely reached first base and subsequently scored six runs each.

Stephanie Taylor and Claire Fothergill each scored a rounder on their second bat and Taylor went on to be Bury’s top scorer with 13.

Nicola Ryan survived a “no score” on her second bat and was last batter, contributing eleven to the home team’s first innings 77.

Bolton lost three batters at the first attempt and although Racheal Crilly with 12 and Heather Lomax, 13, each hit a rounder, the visitors were dismissed for 56.

Bury opened the second innings with five ones and a three before losing two of their remaining batters and lost five more second time round to raise Bolton’s hopes, but their fielding frailties were again exposed as Taylor and Ryan both had “no score” on their third round before finishing with 11 and six respectively. Katie Tod added seven and Jenny Hastie 10, comprising a three and seven ones as Bury finished with 51, setting Bolton a target of 73 to win.

Although the visitors lost only one batter and two other survived “no scores” on the first round, and Amy Leonard hit a rounder, only four batters remained after three rounds. Racheal Crilly with six and Jenny Burrows, seven, were the last two batters as Bolton were dismissed for 45 and defeat by 128 to 101.

Tuesday saw the start of the play-offs which included an unprecedented four three-way clashes, plus one straightforward fight for the top places in Section I in which Pineapple Chunks beat Royal Bolton Hospital A by an innings.

Nicholson, The Grapes A and Walkden CC B finished joint top of Section C, hence the play-offs, but this ran into difficulties as Nicholson’s matches against Grapes and Walkden were abandoned and carried over to this week. In Tuesday’s match, Grapes beat Walkden by 185-143.

In Section G, Applejax, Freedom Ladies and Laurels Ladies played for second place and Freedom took the honours by defeating Applejax and Laurels.

Dave’s Minibus B won Section N by beating Occasions and Little Lever SC B while Occasions took second. Likewise in Section M, American Express became champions after beating NAT’ural Style and runners-up Heaton Ladies B.

Play-off results Section C (for first and second): Walkden CC B 143 The Grapes A 185; The Grapes A v Nicholsons s abandoned (replaying September 8); Nicholsons v Walkden CC B abandoned (replaying September 9).

Section G (for second and third): Applejax 72 Freedom Ladies 97; Freedom Ladies 85 Laurels Ladies 69. Freedom are runners up, having won twice.

Section I (for first and second): Pineapple Chunks 81(I) (Champs) Royal Bolton Hospital A 64 (Runners-up).

Section M (for first and second): Heaton Ladies B 157 American Express 187 (D); American Express 135(D) NAT’ural Style 133; NAT’ural Style 109 Heaton Ladies B 140.

Section N (for first and second): Little Lever SC B 56 Occasions 69(I); Dave’s Minibus B 137(D) Occasions 110 (Runners-up); Dave’s Minibus B 180 (Champions) Little Lever SC B 172.