THE organiser of the revived Cross Cup has expressed his delight at the sporting manner in which this season’s games have been played.

The oldest cricket trophy in Lancashire – also believed to be one of the five oldest in the world – the Cross Cup was not played for last year as the Bolton and District Cricket Association went into suspension after losing all its clubs.

Local umpire Eric Hogg, backed by fellow Association stalwarts, brought it back this season and invited former winners to take part.

Fifteen accepted the invitation and the competition has been a success as it reaches the semi-final stage.

Bolton League club Adlington beat Edgworth from the Greater Manchester League on Sunday to reach the last four, and Mr Hogg said the behaviour of the two teams was typical of the sportsmanship shown in the competition throughout.

“There wasn’t one ounce of trouble,” he said. “The game was played in the right way.

“The umpires are telling me the behaviour of the players at all the games is exemplary, just as it should be.

“It was one of the aims when we brought back the Cross Cup that it should be played in the right spirit, and that’s happened.”

Adlington will be at home to Greater Manchester League side Clifton in the semi-final, while the winners of this Sunday’s Roe Green v Flixton – both from the Greater Manchester League (1pm start) – game will be at home to another GMCL club, Walshaw in the other semi-final.

n The Bolton League Under-18s reached the final of the inter-league competition with an excellent four-wicket victory over the Liverpool Competition.

The final will take place on Bank Holiday Monday and the opposition and venue are still to be decided.