BOLTON made a winning start to the series on Inter-league matches in Bury when the over-45s teams met at East Lancs Paper Mill.

Opening for Bury, Jane Woodcock scored a single, but next batter Kath Bond was out at first base. After another couple of ones, Jo Lutkevitch was also dismissed at first, but Donna Cuddy hit a rounder and the next four batters scored before Mary Crolla was caught out.

Woodcock scored a rounder early in the second round and the remaining batters all survived with Carol Sidall hitting a rounder, but Lorraine Berry escaped with a zero.

After hitting a rounder the previous time, Woodcock was caught for a total of seven, but again, the remaining batters all scored, however, after six rounds, the home side were down to just a couple of batters, Sharon Warren and Donna Cuddy who were ultimately denned for 16 and 20 respectively for a total of 83.

The visitors made a steady start to their innings with the loss of only one batter, although Lee Holt failed to score first time round, but went on to be last batter, finishing with a rounder before being denned for16.

Sue Taylor (13), Anne Truffas and Sarah Gradwell (10 each), Joanne Holden (12) and top scorer Maria Gregory with 23, took Bolton’s total to 104 and a lead of 23.

Two batters were caught out, two out at first base and six were hit out. The tactic of hitting batters as they approach first base is unpopular with many spectators, but it is effective and protects the first-base fielder from having her fingers and hand hit by a bat.

Facing a 23- run deficit, the Bury team did not start well in their second innings as the first batter scored none, four scored singles and Sharron Warren had a three, but five batters succumbed to the sharp Bolton fielding, two caught, two dismissed at first and one hit out.

With four batters remaining after four rounds, the Bury side put up a fight with Kath Bond and substitute Dawn Leach both scoring a rounder, but Bond was caught out for 11 and Leach caught and denned for 15. This took the Bury total to 47 for the innings and 130 for the match.

Needing 27 to win, Bolton lost two batters on the first round, but Elaine Lord and Tammy Kennion scored twos and the other batters one apiece, however, Truffas, Gradwell and Holden were all eliminated on the second round.

After Gregory was hit out for 11, Lord and Jill Hurst kept going and added five before being denned for 14 and 10 respectively for an innings 63 and total of 167, giving them victory by 37.

The junior sides meet at Elton Vale Sports Club on Friday. The Intermediates' match the following week will also be at Elton Vale and it will be back to ELPM for the Seniors on July 15.

In the BSF League, DWR Ladies had a cracking win against Hulton Lane Ladies in F Section on Tuesday night.

Home team Hulton Lane only had five batters scoring in the first innings, and with the addition of eight bats, managed to squeeze into double figures with 18 points whilst DWR scored an admirable 77 in their first innings. The second innings proved to be even worse for Hulton Lane, with DWR managing to keep them into single figures with a score of just eight points – bringing their match score to 26.

In C section, a similar scenario almost took place between Hough Fold and Wallys Eleven. The first innings scores were 20 – 76 for Wallys. Hough Fold came in to bat with a positive attitude, but a battle on their hands. As a result of some fantastic bowing from Wallys, 3 batters were out for no score and a further five with single figures, leaving just two batters remaining after two rounds. However, thanks to the magnificent efforts of Viv Rides and Lynn Whittam, they managed a final score of 72, taking their total score to 92.

Wallys had little to do when they came back in to bat, however Hough Fold upped their game and managed to keep them at a respectable 65. The final score was 144-92 for Wallys XI.

The league tables are looking interesting this week. A section seems to be a section of two halves with Darcy, Little Lever, Rupert and Walkden with only four points between them, while the remaining teams are well below on four points, and NW Hydraulics on two. B section is more closely matched with only two points between each team from 14 to four.

In E section, Stoneclough seem to be storming ahead, only dropping one point for a draw. Having had the pleasure of refereeing their brilliant win in the Sunday cup with a team fielding only eight players, this is surely a team to watch.

Only when we get to H section do we find the first team to have won all their games so far, Eagley Pike the side standing alone. Adlington XI B and Tika Tika are also currently undefeated.

At the bottom of their sections, BB Diamonds, White Horse (Kearsley) and JHBs Warriors have yet to score, but that is surely not due to a lack of effort. They have all proved to be great teams to play against with a positive attitude. Let's hope they manage at least one win in the second half of the season.

After struggling to turn out a full team and winning just one match in the first half of the season, Section J side Little Hulton Cricket Club have thrown in the towel and withdrawn from the league. Their record has been expunged and future fixtures are void.