By Bob Moffatt

THE Bury leg of the inter-league series got under way on Friday at Bury Sports Club with the over-45s first up.

Bury had lost the match in Bolton by just 32 runs so were determined to turn the tables on home turf and lost only one batter first time round.

But they lost two more on the second round then another on the third.

This inspired Deb Pierce to score a rounder and a three before being caught out for 13, but Elaine Waters hit two consecutive rounders to finish on 18, and top scorer Linda Unsworth included three rounders in her tally of 31.

Last pair Helen Zammitt and Jane Woodcock each played a steady innings before being denned for 18 and 19 respectively as the home side ended with 126 for their innings.

Bolton made a steady start with six singles, a couple of twos and a rounder by Anne Truffas but lost a couple of batters – one at first base then one hit out.

Having seen what Truffas could do, the Bury fielders made sure she was well contained and kept her to ones and twos until she hit a three before being caught for 21 as Bolton’s top scorer.

Left on their own, Elaine Lord scored one and Lorraine Monks none before the pair were denned for 16 each to take Bolton to 99.

Bury started the second innings with 21 runs from the first round including a rounder by Lee Rector.

But the visitors were delighted to catch Waters at the first attempt and were equally pleased to dismiss Unsworth at first base for a total of four.

A further rounder by Rector took her to 18 before being caught out and Pierce had a rounder and three threes before being denned as top scorer with 21, taking Bury to 102 for the innings and 228 for the match.

Needing 130, Bolton did not start well, losing two batters and a further three failing to score first time round.

Vickie Hill scored a rounder on the second round and Joanne Holden another on the third, but Bolton’s innings was only prolonged by a remarkable number of zero scores as nerves seemed to affect the home fielders.

Truffas was top scorer with 16, followed by Hill (15), Gill Hurst (11) with Lord and Holden also in double figures with 10 each, but the visitors were all out for 93, leaving Bury winners by 228-192. The junior sides play on Friday at Bury Sports Club.

The Bolton League programme has now passed the halfway point and after nine games Rupert Ladies A remain unbeaten at the top of Section A.

Defending champions Little Lever XI are two points behind after losing to Rupert a couple of weeks ago.

Darcy Lever C&SC A dropped to third after losing to Little Lever last week.

Little Lever’s win over Darcy may not be a surprise, but the margin of victory was totally unexpected as Little Lever won by an innings and four runs. Wendy Horan was top scorer with 29 with Sam Waldron (26) and Rachel Costello (22) piling on the runs.

Seven other sections still have unbeaten leaders at the halfway stage with KC Ladies, Wallys Eleven, Spring Green XI, Darcy Blues, Wallys Dollys, M&D and BCC Interbake sharing that distinction.

The second round of the Handicap Competitions will be played on Sunday, starting at 11am unless agreed otherwise.