IT was another soggy Saturday in the Bolton League with all seven matches hit by the inclement weather.

League leaders Farnworth, however, had little trouble rattling off the runs they needed to earn a seven-wicket win in a game reduced to 37 overs at Heaton. The home side struggled to get to grips with Anwar ul-Haq (5-14), with only Oli Sutcliffe (27) able to really trouble the scorers as they were bowled out for 99.

Further rain meant Farnworth were set a revised target of 80 to win from 24 overs and opener Adil Nisar (40) guided them home.

Second-placed Greenmount enjoyed an emphatic 10-wicket victory at bottom side Eagley, openers Andy Kerr (54) and Anthony Harris (23) powering their way to a revised target of 79 to win from 30 overs.

The match was initially reduced to 37 overs and the home side struggled to 89-9, with Phil Heaton (5-45) and Mark Stewart (4-38) doing the damage.

In a good day for the away sides, second-bottom Astley Bridge held their nerve to claim a five-wicket win at Westhoughton.

Astley Bridge pro Himesh Silver laid the groundwork with 5-31, assisted by David Cryer (3-49), as they bowled the home side out for 115 in a match originally reduced to 46 overs.

Ian Pilkington and Kieran Paisley top scored for Westhoughton with 24 each.

Rain reduced the match by a further over and the visitors – at 98-1 – looked to be coasting towards their revised target of 114 before a late wobble saw them lose four wickets for just three runs.

The wickets were shared between Westhoughton pro Stephen Murdoch (3-31) and Kieran Edwards, who came on with a late burst of 2-6 from four overs.

But opener Andy Northrop, with a steady 49 not out, ensured Astley Bridge reached their target.

Fourth-placed Farnworth SC bucked the trend with a nine-run victory at home to Tonge to keep the pressure on the top three.

Dave Tonge top scored with 42 as the home side were bowled out for 134 – Neil Tonge (7-62) and Dave Bath (3-66) shared the wickets.

Opener Paul Tonge looked to have taken the game away from Farnworth SC with some heavy scoring, but he fell for 72 in the 20th over and Tonge were eventually bowled out for 125 with eight balls remaining. Danny Salpiatro was the pick of the bowlers with 6-38.

Sadly, the rain did claim some victims, with the matches at Bradshaw and Little Lever abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Horwich and Egerton managed some play, with the home side bowled out for 120 – Mal Dalugoda claimed 6-36 as Adam Street top scored with 38. Egerton battled to 37-1 in a stop-start reply before the match was eventually called off as a weather-abandoned draw.