THE HALLIWELL Shield final on August 13 will take place at Blackrod who entertain Little Hulton. At home to Little Hulton, Clifton struggled after Cooke had ripped apart the top order. Brabin stood firm with 21 and helped by Jennings (19) and Meredith (27 no) took Clifton to IO8-9. Cooke finished with 4-13 and Ogden claimed five catches behind the stumps. Ogden (30) set Little Hulton on the way and Darren Mullineux (41 no) completed the formality to win by five wickets. Blackrod eased into the semi-final defeating Daisy Hill. A surprise appearance by Cumberbatch (3- 17) reduced Daisy Hill to ll2 despite a battling innings by Sale (44 no). Craig Bailey (58 no) and Paul Fairbrother (29 no) saw them home.

The merry-go-round at the top of the league table brings new leaders Clifton and Adlington moving into second place. Clifton easily beat Lostock by seven wickets reaching 148 in reply to 146-9. Rashleigh with 38 was the top scorer in the Lostock innings, but Whittaker with 63 won the game for Clifton. Brabin was the pick of the Clifton bowlers with 3-33. Adlington were too good for Daisy Hill. Openers Jones (46) and Phil Shovelton (116 no) putting on 94 and Adlington closed at 216-3. Adam Irish made 42 no but Daisy Hill were dismissed for l22. Jones (3-38) and Howard Scott (3-17) bowled Adlington to victory.

Atherton beat Blackrod (123-9) by seven wickets although there were three overs left. Haydock (57) enabled Blackrod to reach respectability but Marsh destroyed the innings with 5-6. Gredecki (53) and Lilley (28 no) helped knock off the required runs. Edgworth, impressive in beating one-time leaders Darcy Lever (90), move within a point of Spring View at the bottom. Loosing only Liversedge (22), Jon Mather again notched another half-century (56 no) and took 3-I 8, aided by Coupe (3- 31) to set up the victory.

Spring View must have envisaged at least a draw after Gornall (44), Williams (49) and John Green(46 no) had seen the total reach 2l0-5. However, Graham Caunce (53), Law (40 no), Mills (32) and Singleton (36) ensured victory for Walshaw with three balls remaining. Golborne gained revenge for the cup defeat at Little Hulton seven days earlier. After falling to 6-4 Golborne reached l29 with Marston 52. Golborne's Makinson took 5-21 and with support from Ormshaw (3-25) and Stockton (2-27) dismissed Little Hulton with only Vinnie Mullineux (28) offering resistance.

A close game at Elton saw the home side fail by six runs to reach 130 by Standish. Andy Chappell took 3-24 but Gaskell's 3-23 was the winner for Standish, despite a fighting 65 by Zaheer Ahmed. An interesting point in this game was the appearance of A & T's Simon Nicklin and Rob Bennett as deputy umpires. No doubt finding out how the other half lives. There is no record of any debatable decisions, although there was one lbw dismissal.