FARNWORTH sent out a message they are not prepared to give up their Anthony Axford Bolton Cricket League Premiership Division title easily as they beat Westhoughton in a hard-fought game on Saturday.

The Lavender Road side totalled 234-8 with opener Ross Sutton scoring 44 and last men at the crease, Iain McLellan and Danny Higham, hitting 24 and 33 not out, respectively.

Pro Qaiser Abbas hit a brilliant 110 in reply as Westhoughton finished just two runs short of their rivals’ total in a thrilling encounter.

Walkden sent out a message they could mean business this season when they got Horwich all out for 88 then knocked off the winning runs for the loss of one wicket.

And there is no shortage of potential title challengers this season, Farnworth Social Circle making a statement at the expense of Premiership new boys Daisy Hill whom they beat by 181 runs at Piggott Street.

Opener David Tonge scored 68 and number six, the big-hitting Chris Barrow, blasted 92 not out as Circle posted 301.

Another outstanding performance was produced by Bradshaw in beating Kearsley (see main story on this page).

In the Association Division, Curtis Anderton led Little Lever to a resounding victory at Adlington.

The consistent spinner took 6-17 off 15 overs as the hosts posted 83 all out which the Villagers’ knocked off for five wickets, veteran Anthony Hilton scoring 38.

Four out of five traditional Bolton League clubs won in the Association Division, Tonge being the only ones who did not.

The Crompton Way men could scarcely have done more, though.

They played a full part in a high-scoring game against Heaton which could have gone either way – full report on this page – while Astley Bridge and Eagley also got their promotion bids off to a positive start.

Bridge had a five-wicket victory over Little Hulton at home in which Kai Hodgkiss started life at his new club after leaving Westhoughton on a good note by top scoring with 61.

Eagley got Darcy Lever out for 105 then knocked off the winning runs for the loss of seven wickets, captain Jack Wainman seeing his side home coming in at number six and scoring 24 not out.

Tim Halliday did similar, also coming in at number six and being unbeaten, this time for 27 runs, to help Golborne to victory at home to Blackrod.

Golborne posted 120 all out before getting the visitors out for just 51.

Blackrod are short of numbers at the moment while players complete their university courses and work commitments.

And the sooner they come back the better for the Vicarage Road club it seems as none of their batsmen made it into the 20s.

In the Greater Manchester League Premier Division, Edgworth beat Woodhouses by 32 runs away after posting 202-9 (Liam Watkinson 61, 3-32), Egerton beat Heywood by five wickets at home (Will Halton 5-20), and in Division One A, Astley and Tyldesley beat Stayley at home by 126 runs after posting 195-8, pro Nathan McDonnell taking 6-44.