WALKDEN in the Bolton League are the first team to become champions of the top tier in any of the major cricket leagues in Lancashire, although in some of the others the title can be decided next weekend.

In the Liverpool Competition, Northern require just one win, or possibly only bonus points, to pip Ormskirk to the title.

With avoiding defeat their priority at the weekend, they ground out 109-2 from 44 overs in reply to Ormskirk's 160.

It has been a disastrous couple of weeks for Ormskirk, losing ground in the Liverpool Competition Premier League and being defeated in the National Knockout quarter-final, the National T20 quarter-final and the Lancs KO semi-final.

In the Greater Manchester League, Flixton can retain their title on Saturday but the race between Blackpool and Netherfield in the Northern League could go to the wire.

There is a similar situation in the Lancashire League where, incredibly despite winning all their matches apart from two which were rained off, Walsden can still be caught by Lowerhouse and, less probably, Ramsbottom.

In the Bolton League, Atherton and Daisy Hill have just two and three wins respectively so far.

It is disappointing, but far from uncommon with Preston yet to record a win in the Northern League, and Highfield, Milnrow and Denton West on two wins apiece in other leagues.

Atherton and Daisy Hill were promoted to the top tier at the end of last season and will find themselves returning to the Association Division at the end of this one.

Again this is something that could be repeated around the other leagues. Highfield and Rainford were promoted to the Liverpool Competition at the end of the 2017 season and will almost certainly be returning to the First Division.

One of the teams replacing them will be Southport who were relegated 12 months ago.

This will actually be Southport's fourth consecutive season of promotion or relegation, matched by Rainford who have always managed to go in the opposite direction.

In the Northern League, Fulwood and Broughton, promoted from the Palace Shield last season, are probably on the way back, only to be replaced by either or both of Kendal and Lancaster, who were relegated last season.

Greenmount, Heywood and Edgworth were relegated from the Greater Manchester Premier League in 2016, only to return in 2017. Greenmount and Edgworth are currently in the relegation zone, and could be joined in the drop by Heywood or Egerton, who were relegated last year but reinstated following the withdrawal of Bamford Fieldhouse.

When multi-division Premier cricket was introduced around 20 years ago, becoming more popular recently, this effect was probably not envisaged, but does emphasise the gulf, with exceptions, of the top clubs in each league and the others, with something similar between the top and lower clubs in the second tier.