FRUSTRATION kicked in on Saturday as the Bolton Cricket League fell victim to the rain.

For the second time this season, heavy rainfall meant that all games were abandoned without play and each side was awarded two points.

Astley and Tyldesley, Edgworth and Egerton also had their respective games in the Greater Manchester Cricket League abandoned.

In the Bolton League, struggling Bradshaw were due to host Heaton but a waterlogged pitch gave the game no chance of starting.

The Rigbys outfit have lost four consecutive games and sit fifth from bottom in the table.

And despite having recorded only one win this year, skipper Nick Lester says his side always tries their utmost to get the game on, regardless of current form.

“We are obviously frustrated not to get the game on against Heaton,” he said. “Gary Garner, their captain, is a good lad and it is always an enjoyable fixture against Heaton.

“It doesn't matter if you're on a winning streak or a losing streak, we are not the sort of club who will just take the two points, we always want to try and get the game on.

“We know results have not been up to standard of late but are taking it one game at a time and hoping to finish as high up the table as possible.”

Tipped as title contenders before the start of the season, along with Farnworth, Farnworth Social Circle and Westhoughton, Bradshaw have shocked many by failing to replicate their success of recent years.

And Lester says his team are working harder than ever to turn around their fortunes.

He said: “We are disappointed with where we are at. We have not really clicked as a team yet and put in a complete performance.

“Often we have relied on individuals but we need to pick it up as a team.

“It was a tough start to the season against teams like Westhoughton, Farnworth Social Circle and Eagley. They have all been really close and good games but we have not really covered ourselves in glory.

“We are still optimistic and the lads are more committed than ever. We know we have not been at the standard that we require but we are working harder than any team I have seen here in the last few years to rectify that.”

The highlight of an otherwise difficult season has been the form of Tom Liversedge.

The all-rounder has taken 21 wickets and scored 330 runs in 12 games, hitting three half-centuries.

And Lester has issued a rallying call to his team-mates to give Liversedge more support and help Bradshaw climb back up the table.

He added: “Tom has been doing well. He has been the bright spark at the minute, but we can't rely on individuals on a weekly basis.

“There's about five or six of us now who have got to pick up our games and share the work load.”