SPRING View suffered their first league defeat of the season as the Vimto Bolton Association ended the first part of a double weekend programme with new leaders.

Spring View were toppled by Atherton, while Clifton made their move by virtue of a winning draw at close rivals Edgworth.

The Wigan side were restricted to 151-9, Steve Walsh taking 6-46, while Ian Green top scored with 44.

Brian Cole led the Atherton reply with 64 and although Alan Shields took 4-70, Atherton finished with a winning 154-4.

Clifton faced a strong looking Edgworth side but had the upper hand once they had totalled 156-6, Ian Morris hitting an unbeaten 82. Edgworth ended the day 15 runs adrift on 141-8 but it was not quite as close as the scores suggest, a slowish start leaving them with a little too much to do. Howard Brooks was their top scorer with 72.

British Aero had pro John Nuttall to thank as the major contributor to their eight wicket win at Astley and Tyldesley.

First he took six wickets for 43 as Astley were dismissed for 130, then he hit 54 while Richard Stobbs was unbeaten on 56 in a total of 131-2.

Elton's John Ashworth was also among the runs. He hit 80 not out in the local derby draw at Walshaw.

Ashworth's innings helped Elton to 158-8, Colin Crouch collecting 5-78, while Walshaw were 143-6 in reply.

Little Hulton professional Tim O'Sullivan took 5-52 but it wasn't quite enough to secure a win at Daisy Hill.

The home side managed to play out the draw at 122-9 after Little Hulton had set a target of 188-4, David Platt 41 not out and Mike Edwards 40. The top score of the day came from Golborne. They posted 214-6 against Blackrod, pro Tony Kelly hitting 53 and Andy Mullaney 47.

Blackrod could not match that as Ewan McCray had 4-37 and Chris Benbow 3-46 but they managed to survive at 133-8.

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