Bolton Association second teams

ELTON maintain their position of the top of the table but their inability to beat strugglers A & T followed Little Hulton and Clifton, victors on both Saturday and Sunday, to make inroads into the lead.

Lee Hanmett (80), Nick Barrass (52) and Graham Bushell (41) took Elton 238-9 at A & T with Evans taking 4-51. In reply David Groves top-scored with 41 and A & T gallantly held on 170-8. On Sunday they restricted Standish 160-8, Gary Edwards 67, and Peter Lomax (32) ensured victory by four wickets.

Little Hulton had easy victories over Spring View by 10 wickets and Walshaw by eight wickets. David Ogden (56) and Chris Cooke (47) knocked off the 113 runs required to beat Spring View and David Platt (37) and Neil Jarvis (33) were the not out batsmen against Walshaw, 97 all out.

Clifton also had an easy win against Darcy Lever. Nine wickets was the winning margin as Darcy were dismissed for 94. Garner and Gambles with 35 and 31 respectively led the run chase while Gambles starred with ball (4-9) on Sunday to dismiss A & T for 101 and Paul Whittaker recorded 55 in a five wicket victory.

Blackrod and Golborne recorded victories in their only games at the weekend. Spring View were Blackrod's victims. In a seven win Paul Fairbrother scored 76 not out and took 2-29 but the bowling honours went to Joe Pryle with 4-45. Peter Harmer (61) and David Gornall (39) had promised a bigger total for Spring View then the final figure 163-7.

Golborne dismissed Standish for 84 and lost only two wickets in winning the match. Mark Eddleston (29) and Ian McMillan were the not out batsman after Andy Makinson had taken 4-17.

Atherton, piling up 208-2, easily dismissed the challenge of Adlington to win by 130 runs. David Marsh (98 n.o.) and Andrew Cole (82) forged a century opening partnership.

Michael Leyland (32) and Chris Jones started promisingly but the introduction of David Baines (5-12) and David Marsh (4-29) brought a collapse to 82 all out.

It was a different story on Sunday as Daisy Hill replied with 190-6 to Atherton's 275-5. Big scores in this game were recorded by Matthew Lilley (83), Rob Merga (43), Parry (41) and Daisy Hill's Warren Kenny (40) and Craig Atherton 50 not out. There were 25 extras in the Daisy Hill's innings but they conceded a staggering 45 themselves.

Daisy Hill are showing a vast improvement on their early season form. Prior to holding Atherton to a draw, Lostock were beaten by two wickets. Again extras added greatly to the Lostock total, 33 in an all out total of 133. Craig Rashleigh was the top batsman with 33.

David Gleave 3-39 and Craig Atherton 4-39 laid the foundations. After early alarms Paul Hulton (48) and Neil Redford (30 n.o.) guided Daisy Hill to victory despite four wickets for Tommy Hamer.

Edgworth are showing improved batting performances scoring 162 at Walshaw and 177-7 against Adlington. In neither case were the scores good enough to provide victories as Walshaw amassed 241 all out and a fading Adlington side hanging on 133-9. Walshaw's Ryan Novak (54) and Graham Caunce (40) top-scored. Denver Thornton took 4-44 and scored 71 when Edgworth replied. Together with David Critchley (59) he recorded another century opening partnership against Adlington, for whom only Nick Boden (36) performed. Bobby Coupe took 3-19 late on to add to his 3-46 versus Walshaw.

The changing fortunes in cricket was best displayed at Darcy Lever. Dismissed for 94 on Saturday, they followed this up with 253-6 to subject Lostock to a second defeat of the weekend. C Ridley for Darcy produced a highest individual score of the week with 126 and Peter Syddall's 44 was unable to stave off defeat by 139 runs.