AT the halfway stage of the Bolton League second XI season Westhoughton find themselves with a four-point lead over nearest challengers Heaton.

Their latest win saw them sweep aside Farnworth Social Circle by an impressive 125 runs at St Georges Oval.

With their innings reduced to 34 overs Westhoughton powered to an imposing 180-8, led by a rapid 70 from Ben Harrison, with good support from Jamie McAndrew and Chris Trow who each made 30 as Simon Harrison took 3-47. Social’s chase never got going as Malcolm Strong (4-4) and Harrison (3-22) combined to help dismiss them for just 55.

Another team to enjoy a comfortable win was Astley Bridge, who defeated Bradshaw by nine wickets at The Rigbys.

Bradshaw were struggling on 31-5 before a late rally engineered by George Booth (33), Ian Ross (24) and Jamie Legg (22) helped them to 127-8. The Bridge target was set at 125 which they reached with few problems after Ady Cooper (47) and James Cooper (55 not out) put on 119 for the first wicket.

Heaton moved into second after a four-wicket win against Kearsley, chasing a rain-revised target. Kearsley set an impressive 191-7 in their 39 overs. Steven Pellowe (42no), Abishek Karigowda (42) and Joe Capstick (41) led the scoring with Marcus Haslam taking 4-38. Gary Garner led the successful run chase with an unbeaten 47, backed up by Ryan Tierney (31), Haslam (30) and Nigel Duxbury (28) as Daniel Robinson took 4-40.

Despite losing by 29 runs Blackrod finally got their first point of the season as they posted 198-8 in a vain pursuit of Farnworth’s 227-8.

Andrew Gregory with 54 led the chase with the help of Chris Readey (39) and Ben Mather (31) but Stephen Bradley’s 3-32 helped peg them back.

In Farnworth’s innings Shujat Ali fell agonisingly short of the magic ton, dismissed for 99, as he and Peter Eccles (75) added 108 for the second wicket. Andrew Patterson chipped in with 29 and Matthew Baty took 3-8 late in the innings.

Daisy Hill had simply no answer to a brilliant spell of 7-18 by Andy Taylor as they collapsed to a disappointing 71 all out at Horwich RMI, despite four men managing to get into double figures. Daniel Hunt with 26 helped see his side home by eight wickets in a game that lasted just 36 overs.

It is tight at the top of the Association division which sees Eagley top by a point after their bonus-point win against nearest rivals Darcy Lever.

With the game reduced to 35 overs Eagley managed 162-6, thanks in the main to 59no from Louis Seigne and 24 from Daniel Burke as Toseef Hanif claimed 3-49. Despite Bilal Khan making a fine 66 Darcy managed just 105 in reply, Daniel Cain taking 4-23.

Lostock continued their recent good run with a third win on the bounce as they defeated Adlington by eight wickets at Meadow Street.

Batting first, Adlington were always struggling and only Andrew Chamberlain managed any prolonged resistance as Andy Johnson collected 4-8 and Tom Mills 3-18. But for a generous 29 extras their total of 73 could have been even lower. Lostock lost a couple of early wickets but an unbroken stand of 40 between Tom Senior (32no) and Mark Cregan secured a comfortable win.

Little Lever pipped Atherton by two wickets in an exciting encounter at Higham Park.

Chasing the home side’s 167, Lever were grateful for an unbeaten 45 from Mark O’Shaughnessy, together with 52 from Gareth Moxon, as they edged home despite Mark Davies taking 4-50. In the Atherton innings Mark Martin (4-56) and Lee Collier (4-29) had helped restrict them to 167 even though Wasim Abbas made 52 and Michael Tomlinson 35.

Golborne romped home by nine wickets against Tonge after dismissing them for 82.

Masum Patel with 20 was the only batsman to get going as Farooq Hussain took 4-28 and Lewis Clarke 3-4. Hussain then hit a rapid 28no and Ben Lyon 22 to secure the win.

The semi-finals of the Birtwistle Cup have thrown up a local derby for the final as Farnworth and Farnworth Social Circle won their respective games.

Social entertained Little Hulton and made a very respectable 185-6 in their 45 overs. Christian Walsh (65) and Liam Ashworth (32) led the way with the bat, despite Stephen Thomasson taking 3-37. Walsh then took 3-27 in combination with Simon Harrison 3-30 as, despite eight batsmen reaching double figures, Little Hulton were dismissed for 140 in reply.

Neighbours Farnworth progressed by virtue of a five-wicket victory over Heaton.

Heaton batted first but only Mark Greenhalgh (37) and Nigel Duxbury (21) were able to make much of an impact in a disappointing 101 all out as Daniel Joynson took 3-28.

Kishan Patel took 3-28 to stall Farnworth’s chase but Andrew Patterson (32) and Shujat Ali (21) got them home with overs to spare.