THE last match of the inter-league series in Bolton was the “Golden Girls” (over-60s) game at Darcy Lever Cricket Club on Sunday.

Tight Bury fielding restricted the home batters to single runs on the first round except for Elaine Martindale who scored a three and Ellen McGuinness a two, while Lynn Brown was out at first base.

That set the pattern for Bolton’s first innings and Mary Harrison was the only batter to achieve double figures with 11.

Martindale finished with another three, but was then dismissed at first base for nine and Andrea Worthing finished with eight as she and Harrison were denned for a Bolton total of 51.

Bury made a confident start with all batters surviving the first round which included three threes, a two and a rounder by June English who was hit out at her second attempt.

Leading by example, Chris Yates was last batter and top scorer with 18, Sandra Rothwell scored two threes towards the end and finished with 17.

Joyce Roscoe (15) and Val Pierce (11) also reached double figures to take the visitors to 101.

At 50 behind, Bolton raised their game after the interval and with a rounder each, Viv Anderton scored 26 and Lynn Brown 22 before the pair were denned for 118 which put them on 169 – a lead of 68.

Realising they could lose the game, Pierce and Roscoe each started with a rounder, but the former was caught out next ball.

Roscoe went on to be top scorer with 27 and last batter with captain Yates who scored 15 in singles and a couple of twos. Hilda Mole outscored her captain with 16 which included a three and three twos, taking the innings total to 109 to win the game 210-169.

The inter-league games in Bury start on Friday when the over-45s sides are in action at Bury Sports Club on Radcliffe Road.

The league reaches the halfway point this week and a match of particular interest will be the Section A game at Darcy Lever Cricket Club on Wednesday when defending champions Little Lever XI meet Darcy Lever C&SC A.

Both have lost to Rupert Ladies A, so defeat may well kill off the chances of the loser taking the title at the end of the season.

Last week saw Across Ladies win their first Section D game of the season, beating Adlington XI A by 12 runs after leading by 23 on the first innings.

Meanwhile, in Section I Bishops Ladies dropped their first points when they lost 209-175 to Scissor Sisters who a vying with them for top spot.

Going into week nine of the 18-week season, nine teams remain unbeaten, but only five are still looking for their first points.

Holidays appears to have affected some teams quite badly, but they can look forward to better fortunes in the remaining weeks, provided their other players don’t also decide to take their holidays during the season.

A few teams, however, have a different problem because they are short of players and the deadline to strengthen their squads is looming with the final date being next Tuesday.

The draw has been made for the second round of the Sunday Handicap competitions and matches are all scheduled for Sunday, July 5.