THE Bolton Association were made to suffer in the MEN Inter-League Knockout, beaten in the opening round by the Ribblesdale League.

Ribblesdale totalled 232-8, while the Association were all out on 203.

Opener Nick Fawcett hit 95 for the Association but the chase for quick runs meant he was never able to forge a lasting partnership as wickets fell regularly and cheaply.

It started well with Fawcett and David Keenan puttiing on an opening partnership of 39. When Keenan was out for 26, Dale Tyrer came in to add 22 to take the score up to 74-2.

Unfortunately it had taken 24 overs to reach that mark and when the later batsmen tried to push on, several of them lost their wickets cheaply going for big shots.

Meanwhile, Fawcett kept going at one end and he was second last out before the innings ended on 203.

Earlier when Ribblesdale batted, Driver (47) and Bolton (41) put on 88 for the first wicket before both fell to Matthew Taylor, and there was further hope when at 147, Dominic Gavin took two wickets in two balls. That, however, brought two big hitters to the crease and Faisel Butt (21) and Bisoodwal (29 not out) wasted little time in pushing the final total to 232.

Mark Penny was the top Association bowler with 3-45, while Taylor had 2-34.