HORWICH RMI tightened their grip on the leadership of the Bolton Second XI League with another comprehensive win while nearest rivals Bradshaw slipped to a thrilling one-run defeat last weekend.

Unbeaten RMI's latest victory was a nine-wicket success at Springfield Road, where hosts Kearsley batted first and were always struggling against the bowling of Adam Knowles (4-20) and Joe Settle (3-27), being dismissed for just 55.

Settle then made short work of the reply with a rapid unbeaten 38, ending the match inside 27 overs.

Bradshaw fought out a thriller at St James Street but hosts Daisy Hill squeezed home by just one run.

Avnish Varsani (30) gave the Daisy Hill innings a decent start and then James Mann (56) and Luke Lundy (27) helped them to post a useful 179-8 despite Jamie Legg's 3-22.

Jordan Evans (36) and Jonathon Legg (31) helped push Bradshaw towards their target, but Ryan Garner's unbeaten 49 proved in vain as he ran out of partners with the total on 178. With 6-34 Chris Charters was Daisy Hill's star with the ball.

At Bridgeman Park Farnworth and Atherton scored 568 runs between them with the home side emerging on top by 66 runs.

Farnworth lost two cheap wickets, but Matthew Hicks (81), Steve Bradley (68) and Lee Bridge (45) led a recovery, and with Victor Walcott (31) and Jason Raynor (30) chipping in they posted 317-8.

Atherton had a real go at it, led by a superb 101 from Brad Eckersley and Greg Greenough (81), but in the end had to settle for 251-4 in reply.

Lostock enjoyed a welcome return to winning ways with a four-wicket win at Adlington, but only after Ken Hitchen with 5-27 had threatened to derail their run chase. In the end the foundations laid by Ryan Crombie's 33 proved just enough for Lostock.

Earlier Tom Shovelton (38) had proved the main obstacle to the bowlers as Adlington struggled to 101 all out, though they were helped by 28 extras. Tom Mills led the way with 3-24.

Heaton eased to an eight-wicket win against Eagley at Lower Pools, chasing down the target with 12 overs to spare. Eagley batted first, and fine bowling from Andy Cumberbatch (4-27) and Kishan Patel (3-24) limited them to 124. Nigel Duxbury (35) and Ryan Tierney (53 not out) then saw Heaton to 126-2.

In a much closer game at Simpson Fields Farnworth Social Circle finally got home by four wickets. Golborne batted first and got a great start from David Szostock (20) and N Yusuf who went on to make 44, but after their stand of 59 was broken the rest of the batting collapsed against the bowling of Carl Glover (5-19) in a disappointing 107-9. Matthew Knight and Andrew Brookes both made 21 as Circle passed the target with six wickets down.

Standish beat Little Lever by 25 runs at Green Lane. Paul Hogarth was again in good form as his unbeaten 87 and some useful middle-order support helped Standish post 172-7, with Lee Collier taking 3-21. Mark Martin led the run chase with a fine 68, but the rest of the batting struggled against the bowling of John Wellman (4-28) and Nathan Harrison (3-62) and the innings closed on 147.

Despite 38 from Dave Swindlehurst, Blackrod were in a spot of bother at 72-5 against Tonge as Stuart Partridge took 4-59, but a stand of 118 between Will Trevor (49no) and Graeme Walsh (59) helped them recover to 207-6. This proved far too many for Tonge, who collapsed against the bowling of Nathan Mayor (4-7) and Daniel Cooke (3-10).

Darcy Lever put up a brave fight before eventually going down to Walkden by 24 runs. Walkden recovered from losing three early wickets thanks in the main to Harry Morgan (21) and George McManus (41) to post 142 with the Darcy bowlers spreading out the wickets.

In reply, Wayne Hopkinson carried his bat for 58no but it was a lone battle as only one other batsman got into double figuresand Darcy had to settle for 118 in reply, Mo Razaq taking 4-34.