Association second teams THE four semi-finalists in the Halliwell Shield were confirmed on Monday night. The semi-finals match Daisy Hill v Blackrod and Little Hulton v Clifton. The three remaining ties saw relatively easy victories for Daisy Hill, Blackrod and Little Hulton.

Daisy Hill produced the shock of the round defeating present league leaders A & T by eight wickets. A & T were surprisingly dismissed for 87, only an innings of 30 not out by Waterworth holding up the Daisy Hill attack, in which Mick Leeming (3-7) starred and they were also two wickets each for Greaves and Adam Irish. Penny raced to 55no as Daisy Hill clinched victory in only 19 overs.

When play was abandoned on Sunday, Golborne looked to be favourites at 45-1 chasing 132-10 by Little Hulton for whom Roger Kumar made 31. The wickets fell mainly to Dale Tyrer (4-26) and Paul Waterworth (3-23). However, after the loss of Waterworth for 32, and a tremendous spell by Neil Jarvis (5-15), Golborne collapsed to 95 all out.

Blackrod and Adlington put on a more competitive game in which dropped catches by Adlington were crucial.

Blackrod were all out for 192 with Paul Fairbrother, 86, and Howard Scott took 3-36. Adlington started well but after Chris Jones and Phil Shovelton were parted, Paul Dickinson took 4-20 as Adlington were beaten by 51 runs.

Drawn encounter

In the league Blackrod reduced A & T's lead getting the better of a drawn encounter. Openers Bailey (59) and Westhead (79) form the basis of a score of 218-7 and A & T survived at 122-8.

Adlington and Clifton also improved their league positions with wins over Spring View and Edgworth. Clifton lost one wicket in overhauling Spring View's 126-7. David Gornall made 40 in the face of economic bowling with two wickets each for Jennings and Brabin. Garner (46) and Whittaker (85) were unbeaten after the loss of Birch for 28.

Adlington lost six wickets in the successful chase for runs before the rains came at Edgworth. John Mather was again Edgworth's only significant contributor with 57 out of 86 and Howard Scott taking 4 -9.

The three remaining games were rain-affected, Little Hulton and Atherton feeling particularly frustrated.

Little Hulton posted 259-8 against Standish. Kumar (61) and Wallwork (56) top-scored and there was also an entertaining ninth-wicket stand between Rushton (29) and Cooke (32). Standish were on 29-4 when the rains came, Cooke having taken 3-17.

Atherton were also in charge at 126-3 in reply to Elton's 170-8 with Andrew Cole, 44 no and Mark Lilley, 21 no. In the Elton innings, Andy Gleadhall, 72 not out, was the pick of the batsman with Baines and Penny taking three wickets each.

The Daisy Hill v Walshaw game was delicately balanced as Walshaw were left on 86-5 after Mick Leeming (54) and Ray O'Donnell (44) took Daisy Hill to 175-7. For Walshaw, Lee Chapman took 4-29 and Andrew Singleton made 53.