WITH 16 of the 28 league match programme completed, Golborne led the way at the top. They are no strangers, of course, to such a lofty position, having been champions in 1996 and 1997.

So visitors, Adlington, champions from 1998, knew a difficult afternoon awaited them as they visited Simpson Field. Adlington had turned round a sticky spell recently to be in sixth spot before the game.

Home skipper, Ian Seddon, lost the toss and was asked to bat. Ian is one of my favourite players, and also one of my favourite captains.

In cricket, this role plays a far more important one than many other sports. I remember when Bolton Cricket Club had a super side, the addition of a top captain would have made us even better. Ian and Doc Liversedge of Edgworth were two names which regularly cropped up as being that man.

In a cautious start, a fierce cut by opener Hewitt produced a magnificent catch by Halliwell off Taylor with the Golborne score on seven. The maxim of no justice for the bowler was highlighted when Woods, the other opener, was dropped twice in an over off Rawlings, then bowled round his legs off Taylor. Adlington's pro, Taylor, then repeated the feat, this time bowling Marston off his foot.

Losing Day lbw, and Robinson, caught behind, both off Rawlings, left Golborne in dire straits at 30-5. The eight at Golborne, pro Ian Critchley, departing caused alarm but luckily for the home side he was coming off to get a box!

Critchley was part of Adlington's double winning side the year before and it was interesting to see him perform against his mentor, Mike Howard. Mike is a class act. I remember his days at Little Hulton when he was a fine professional.

A brief respite followed, with Ian Seddon and Critchley consolidating before Seddon fell lbw to give Rawlings his third wicket and Golborne 50-6. Waterworth had three close calls, then hit a few lusty blows, before finally falling for 17. Critchley's fine knock of 32 produced Mike Rawlings' fifth victim and left the home side at 89/8. Taylor rapped the innings up with two wickets at 115.

Scoring is such a vital, and undervalued, part of the game. Doing the business for Adlington was Nick Chamberlain, fresh from covering the Association's amazing run feast of the previous week. Nick got involved when his son, Andrew, was a junior at Adlington.

He is now a vital part of the Association scene. Not bad for an Evertonian!

When Adlington replied, despite the loss of two wickets before 30 was scored, Darryl Hitchen scored a superb 70, with 10 fours off 79 balls, sealing a seven-wicket Adlington win with a reverse sweep.

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