FARNWORTH are just one win from securing the Bolton League Premiership Division title after beating arch-rivals Farnworth Social Circle on Saturday.

The derby clash was the only game in the top division to survive the rain and the Barlows Park outfit took full advantage on their home wicket to increase their lead at the top of the table to 24 points.

The game was reduced to 27 overs per side, which arguably suited the hosts, who have become accustomed to Twenty20 cricket – winning the divisional cup and reaching the ECB National Area finals already this term.

Jon Kerrigan (23) and Ross Sutton (20) put on a 34-run opening wicket partnership for Farnworth as they shot out of the blocks.

Imran Mirza then added 26 before Kamran Younas hit an unbeaten 40 as Farnworth were bowled out for 132.

Ryan Ayres finished with the best figures of the Social Circle bowlers after taking 4-78.

The visitors struggled with their reply until sixth-placed batsman Andrew Lane came to the crease and hit 43.

But he was caught and bowled by Younas, who took 4-44 to help Farnworth secure a nine-run win.

Despite the two clubs being based just over a mile apart, Farnworth skipper Simon Booth says the rivalry between them is more friendly than fierce.

“Over the last few years they have won the league title and beaten us home and away, so it was nice to get one over on them,” he said.

“But in truth, a lot of us are good friends. We all played cricket together at junior level and we know each other really well.

“It was a strange game really. We set off really quick with Jon Kerrigan and Ross Sutton, our two opening batsmen, putting on 34.

“They took wickets at regular intervals and slowed us down and we collapsed at the end to post 132.

“We were always in control until Andy Lane came in and he really could have won the game for them. He batted superbly.”

Booth was also highly complimentary of the way the visitors wanted to get the game on.

He added: “We did everything to get the game on. It always helps when the other side want to play the game too. They could have easily just said that they didn’t want to play and that would have been that.

“We had the covers on all week and thankfully their captain Tim Barrow was really keen to play.

“It is refreshing and Farnworth Social Circle deserve great credit. I suppose if they would have won then they could have stolen a march on everybody else so the gamble made sense on their part.”

After all the hard work preparing the pitch paid off, Booth is now looking forward to possibly winning the title at Kearsley next weekend.

Booth said: “That would be nice for me personally as it’s the closest ground to my home. I can see the ground over my back fence. My missus and her family are Kearsley supporters though so I don’t know who she’ll be supporting.

“Kearsley have been a close rival this year and were top for a short while. They also beat us in the cup so it would be nice to get our own back and lift the title there next weekend.”

HEATON captain Gary Garner insists his side will not be relegated without a fight.

The Lower Pools outfit occupy the final relegation spot in the Bolton League Premiership Division, seven points behind third-bottom Lostock with four games remaining.

“It’s not over yet,”said Garner. “We won’t go down without a fight. We know it’s a tall order but it’s not over yet.

“If we can get one win then another win could quickly follow, that’s what cricket’s like.”

Despite being keen to avoid the drop, Garner believes it would not be the end of the world if his young squad did end up playing in the Association Division next season.

“Some people are saying it would be a disaster if Heaton were to go down but I’m not worried by that,” he said.

“I don’t think it would be a disaster.

“Sometimes you have got to go back to go forwards and we have got some good young players who are probably just not quite ready, but would really benefit from playing at that level.”

The Bolton Cricket League tested promotion and relegation for the first time this year, which has kept interest alive at both ends of the Premiership.

But the Heaton skipper would like to see some changes to the league format, mainly the introduction of more fixtures.

“I really don’t think this 10-team league is working,” Garner added. “I’m old school me and I like the 14-team league.

“I don’t mind the promotion and relegation, I’m not asking for that to be scrapped, I’d just like to see a couple more clubs brought into the league.

“There are a couple of clubs that are leaving other leagues that have not decided whether to join the GMCL yet.

“We could increase the league schedule and get rid of one of the cups – it has been a bit stop-start this year.”

PREMIERSHIP DIVISION

Results

Farnworth 132 Farnworth Social Circle 123-9, Farnworth won by nine runs.

Bradshaw v Heaton, Eagley v Walkden, Lostock v Kearsley, Westhoughton v Horwich all abandoned without play.

GOLBORNE claimed their third win of the season to end Darcy Lever’s promotion hopes.

The Bolton Association’s basement club upset the odds to beat Darcy, who dropped to sixth.

Golborne skipper Tom Pantak put faith in his bowling attack when he won the toss and put the hosts in to bat in a match reduced to 29 overs due to rain.

Chris Fenn opened with a knock of 26 but Shahid Mahboob (4-53) and Moeen Saiyed (3-23) began to turn the screw with the ball to pin Darcy down on 49-7. A late rally from Dominic Gavin (17 not out) and Joseph Gavin (41no) boosted the tally up to 112-7.

Wicketkeeper Ciaran Vasey started the reply with 17 before Mahboob struck 28. Jake Waterworth then added 19 as the chase was completed with two balls and one wicket to spare.

Shaukat Patel (4-43) and Dominic Gavin (3-37) were the pick of the bowlers.

Victorious captain Pantak was delighted with the narrow win.

He said: “We love to beat these teams when, to be honest, we are not expected to win.

“We probably let them get about 20 more runs than we should have. We won the toss, which was key because we are much stronger with the ball so we put them in to bat first.

“It was an interesting game really. We turned up and showed what we can do. I didn’t really think the game was going to be on if I’m honest, but we brought the boundary in on one side and it was reduced to 29 overs.”

Golborne closed the gap on second-bottom Little Hulton to four points and Pantak is targeting three more wins from the final four matches.

He added: “We have been more competitive than the table suggests. We should have won five or six games. We lost by one wicket against Adlington and five runs against Astley Bridge.

“If we were on the other side of those results we could have been looking at a mid-table finish.

“We have got to play Little Lever, Tonge and Little Hulton, which we should be targeting three wins from. We have already beaten two of them this year so I don’t see why we can’t do it again.

“We play Daisy Hill next and that will be tough, but we do well when sides underestimate us.”

Meanwhile, Atherton closed the gap on Daisy Hill at the summit after beating Little Hulton. The Higham Park side went level on points with the leaders but they remain second on games won.

Muhammad Baig took 7-30 as Little Hulton were bowled out for 89. Asim Bhatti top scored with 33. After an early scare, when the top three batsmen fell for a combined score of eight, Shaun Marsh (31no) and Baig (22no) led Atherton to a six-wicket win.

All other matches in the Bolton Association were abandoned.

ASSOICATION DIVISION

Results

Atherton 90-4 Little Hulton 89, Atherton won by 6 wkts.

Darcy Lever 112-7 Golborne 116-9, Golborne won by 1 wkt.

Blackrod v Tonge, Adlington v Little Lever and Astley Bridge v Daisy Hill all abandoned without play.