THERE are those in the local cricket-watching community who hold the view that draws should be scrapped -- that the side scoring most runs should win, as in the first-class one-day league. I have always argued against this, being of the opinion that there can be a lot of merit in the right kind of draw, and in defence of my argument I would hold up this match as Exhibit 'A'!

It was a game that neither team deserved to lose, with plenty of runs scored, some fine individual performances, an excellent (if rather belated) attempt to overhaul a big total and in the end, the putting up of shutter's when realisation dawned that the target was out of reach.

In short, an honourable draw which only prompted two criticisms. Firstly, the fielding of both sides, which fluctuated between the mediocre and the down-right poor and secondly Farnworth Social Circle's slow start, which left them facing a mountain to climb.

Eagley's final total or 223 for 7 was based almost entirely on two partnerships. The first, that between former Circle batsman Nigel Franklyn and professional Brad White, saw the 50 raised in the 13th over.

Darlington, bowling extremely quickly, had both batsmen hurrying their shots early in the innings.

But gradually the pair got on top, with Franklyn being particularly severe on Gary Elliott.

Eventually it was leg-spinner Craig Nicholls who made the breakthrough at 97 when, with arguably the worst ball of his nine-over spell, he persuaded Franklyn to hit a waist-high full-toss into Elliott's hands at mid-wicket

Nicholls saved his second-worst delivery, a rank long-hop, for White, who obligingly holed out to Richard Hope.

In the interim, the same bowler had sent Jamie Wilson on his way, caught behind and I was left with the impression of a very promising leg-spinner but one who, as a first-team bowler, needs to tighten up on his length.

At senior level, the good batsmen will simply wait for the 'four-balls' -- not all of them will be as accommodating as Franklyn and White!

Eagley's openers had played well however, with a joint 20 fours flowing from their bats. And if Franklyn, as ever, had been the more flamboyant of the two, White's eventual 71 was well-organised. and proved to be the bedrock of the innings.

At 148 for 4, Brent Richards and Phil McDermott joined forces and together took the total over the 200 mark before Richards got a beauty from Darlington which knocked back his off stump.

McDermott went on to complete as good a half-century as you could wish to see, before the Circle pro picked up a couple or deserved wickets in the final over to finish with 4 for 70 from his 19 overs.

The home side's reply began much too slowly, although in fairness, to the openers both White and Wilson were lively and accurate, so much so that Wilson's first four overs were all maidens.

However, whereas Eagley's first 10 overs at the start of the game had realised 4 runs.

Circle's first 10 produced only 15 and, in the end, those statistics were to prove vital.

Nigel Hallows, incidentally, apparently saves his unfortunate dismissals for my visits.

Last time I saw him he was run-out backing up too far when his partner's drive hit him and rebounded to the bowler.

This time he was again run-out by an especially alert piece of wicket-keeping from Dave Shuttleworth, who having fielded the ball somewhere around leg-gully, under-armed the stumps down!

Eagley's first bowling change, Seddon for Wilson, came after 23 overs and at the halfway stage the score was 58 for 2 with another 166 needed at more than a run a ball. At 69 for 3 with the required run-rate having increased, Kevin Darlington came to the wicket and, from a no-hope position, proceeded to all but turn the game on its head.

First in partnership with Ashworth and then with Elliott, he stayed at the wicket until the total had reached 177 for 5. An incredible home win was still not out of the question.

He had twice been helped by the Eagley fielders' careless hands but he deserved these two pieces of luck.

By the time he had reached 69 he had struck six glorious straight sixes and three 4s and so long as he was in, all things were possible, even at 10 runs an over.

At that point, however, Brent Richards saved the blushes of some of his team-mates by hanging on to a Darlington skier and Circle's hopes had disappeared.

Four runs later, Richards took an even better catch to see the back of Barrow, when he clung on to the highest steepler of the day as it came down over his shoulder, leaving just enough time for Tonge to ensure his team's third batting point in the game's last over.

So, the good news. Congratulations to both sides for some exhilarating batting which produced 414 runs and a good finish to the match.

The bad news -- compulsory extra fielding practice on Tuesday night for both sides, with only Brent Richards excused!