EAGLEY'S youngsters hit their under-11 rivals for six as they won Bradshaw Cricket Club's annual six-a-side tournament.

The competition is now in its third year and, while the host club's Boom team fell at the final hurdle in their bid to keep the trophy at Rigby Lane, the event was a roaring success despite the weather forcing the knock-out stages to be postponed.

Eight teams competed with two each from Bradshaw, Heaton and Eagley and Darcy Lever and Blackrod also represented.

The high-quality cricket was matched by the support from players' families, friends and club officials lending their support and with the bars and barbecues serving those attending, it was only when the rain came on the first day that organisers had to re-arrange the semi-finals and final for this week.

When the final two teams came together to play for the cup it was Eagley's A team who came out on top, outscoring Bradshaw Boom by 10 runs. Paddy Stokes steered Bradshaw to a decent total of 223 after Eagley's Harvey Seigne had taken a first-over hat-trick but Eagley reached their target to win the trophy.

Bradshaw CC's Andy Needham was delighted with the ability and spirit shown by all the teams in the tournament and he said: "The standard was pretty high, there were a couple of lads playing who were from the Lancashire and District age group squads. Darcy Lever may have had a young side out but they competed very well, as did all the teams.

"This is the third tournament we have had but the first one to be affected by the weather. Everyone had a good time even though the rain did its best to spoil the party a little bit.

"Fortunately all the managers know each other from the Bolton Cricket League circuit so it was never an issue to shrink the programme to accommodate an extra day's play to reach a conclusion.

"From start to finish everyone involved enjoyed themselves, nobody sulked and and it was played in a great spirit."