RUPERT Ladies stamped their superiority on Section A at the halfway point of the season with a decent win over Darcy CC A.

They were leading 73-44, and a repeat performance in the second innings produced 79 runs, 29 from Anne Truffas.

They took six Darcy players for zero and held the rest of the team to 20 runs, taking the match 152-64.

The teams met again on Sunday in the Charity Shield and once again Rupert came out 114D-113 winners.

In a busy week for Rupert they beat fellow A Section team Walkden CCA to make it through to the semi-final of the Chadwick Cup, where they will meet Horwich RMI.

Darcy Lever CCA beat 24/7 and will play Aspull Ladies in the other semi-final.

It was a much closer battle for the top spot in Section B when Westside XI met CRS. Westside opened with 109 runs, CRS replied with 78 then reduced Westsides lead in the second innings by holding them to 44 runs. Sam Darbyshire 14 and Patricia Dyson 11 tried to push their team ahead, but Westside held on to win the match 153-137 and take the joint lead in B Section alongside Darcy Lever CC B who beat Trafford 209-124.

Castle Building Services missed out on a chance to go joint top of D Section when they suffered a six run defeat at the hands of Apollo Ladies who recorded only their second win of the season, leaving Nicholson in top spot two points ahead.

The Bolton over-45s inter-league team play Bury at Elton Vale SC on Friday, at 7pm. Manager Jean Pender will be looking for a repeat performance in the first match of the return series.

The Blackburn Shield semi-finals will take place on Tuesday, July 10, at Hulton Lane PF. An in-form Future XI (top of H Section) meet Heaton CC (third in Section H) and top of Section I Walkden CCB take on Freedom Ladies.

Senior and intermediate inter-league managers Debbie Booth and Gail Nicholson have called a joint practice on Sunday, July 15, at 1pm at Barlow Park (bottom pitch).

Liitle Lever XI A Section have a new secretary, Maria (Paddy) Gregory, 40 Wilkinson Ave, Little Lever, BL3 1QP, tel: 01204 705335 and 07809 544782.