EGERTON stole a march on their title rivals last weekend, moving into top spot after forcing through a two-wicket victory over Eagley.

The rest of the fixtures involving teams in the top half of the table were washed out, and captain Will Halton knows they must now drive home the advantage handed to them by the bad weather.

To remain in pole position, the Blackburn Road outfit must plot a course through successive fixtures against the rest of the top five, starting with the visit of fifth-placed Westhoughton tomorrow.

“We lost all four corresponding fixtures in the first half of the season but we are a very different proposition now,” said Halton, referring to defeats against Westhoughton, Farnworth, Farnworth Social Circle and Greenmount earlier in the campaign.

“For all but one of those games we didn’t have our pro (Mahela Udawatte) in place.

“Since he has joined, our form has really picked up.”

The Sri Lankan batsman scored a century in a victory over Heaton and played what Halton described as a “pivotal” 49 not out against Walkden.

But the Egerton captain says it his experience in the field where Udawatte has proved irreplaceable.

“He captains a side in first-class cricket back in Sri Lanka, so he has been a massive help to me, personally,” added Halton.

“He gives me advice on everything from field placings to bowling changes.

“With him in the side I feel we can give anyone a game.

“We know that if we want to win the title then we have to do much better against the big sides but I am confident that the outcome will be very different to the first half of the season.”

Egerton, like second-placed Greenmount, have an added motivation as they will be moving to the Greater Manchester League next season.

Halton is well aware that his club have never won the title, finishing twice on two occasions in the seven years he has played there.

“To win the title in our last season in the league would be a fantastic way for us to leave,” he said.

“We have this tag of chokers, after blowing leads in the past, which we are desperate to shed.

“The club has won the Hamer Cup while I have been here but the title is the one that we want.”

Tomorrow’s fixtures: Astley Bridge v Greenmount, Bradshaw v Farnworth SC, Eagley v Farnworth, Egerton v Westhoughton, Little Lever v Kearsley, Tonge v Horwich, Walkden v Heaton.