FARNWORTH Social Circle clinched the Bolton League Second XI Premiership title last weekend in style with an emphatic 155-run win against neighbours Farnworth at Bridgeman Park, a result that left their rivals in danger of relegation going into this week’s final games.

Having been set a target of 261 Farnworth’s batsmen simply had no answer to a superb spell of bowling from Josh Roscoe, who demolished them with 8-44.

Ken Rogerson made 33 and David Rushton 22 but Farnworth were all out for 105. Social’s total of 260-5 had earlier been built around 89 from Michael Daley, Stephen French with 88 and Michael Knight (37).

It has been a remarkable season for Social Circle who have gone through the entire league campaign unbeaten with one game remaining. 

Astley Bridge guaranteed themselves the runners up spot with another emphatic win as they trounced Westhoughton by 198 runs at Sharples Park.

Ady Cooper led the way as he carried his bat for a second century of the season with a brilliant 126 not out and with Bilal Patel making 61, Paresh Patail 43 and Mehr Patel 36 they stormed to an impressive 311-4.

Mason McKenna was the pick of the bowlers taking 3-78. Despite Jamie McAndrew hitting 57 and Jordan Higham 28 Westhoughton could only muster 113 in reply with Nick Ford taking 3-23.

Horwich RMI secured third place as they too enjoyed an emphatic win, defeating a hapless Kearsley by a margin of 207 runs at the Recreation Ground.

Batting first, they built up an impressive 254-9 led by a fine 76 from Jake Swindells.

Contributions also came from Jacob Whittaker, who hit 43, 23 from Kaleem Asghar and 24 from Josh Little despite a great effort from Joe Capstick who finished with figures of 6-66 and Andrew Lord (3-76).

The Kearsley batting though was simply swept aside as they collapsed to just 47 all out, Zac Hollis taking 4-22 and Asghar completing a good day with 3-8.

Arguably the win of the day came from a depleted Bradshaw side who held on to record a narrow eight-run win at Lower Pools against Heaton.

Ross Dickinson provided the base for a total of 183 with an innings of 57 with useful support coming from Joe Legg (27) and Ryan Counsell (20) as Heaton shared the wickets out.

Jake Corrigan threatened to take the game away from them with a superb 92 but with no substantial scores coming at the other end Heaton ended up just short as they were all out for 175 with Toby Legg finishing with 4-43.

Bottom club Little Hulton gained a welcome first win of the season as they beat Darcy Lever by 36 runs at the Old Vicarage.

Youngster Jack Stanley led the way with a fine unbeaten 50, supported by Roger Kumah (27) and Andrew Guilfoyle (21) as they made a total of 194, Arslan Javad taking 5-54.

Javad then chipped in with 41 and Waqar Ali 47 in the run chase but Neil Jarvis took 5-63 and Ian Lee 3-57 to help restrict them to 158 in reply.

Little Lever improved their slim chances of promotion with an unlikely win at champions Lostock after batting first and being dismissed for just 87.

Lever fought back brilliantly with the ball, led by Tamoor Jehangir (4-30) and Don Heyes (4-35) and they rolled Lostock out for just 80 in reply with the main resistance coming from Lucky Issa who made 20.

Earlier they had been grateful to Mark O’Shaughnessy (35) and a rapid 23 from Rory Hulmes as Darren Parr with 6-53 and Ryan Crombie (3-26) proved difficult to handle.

Adlington’s hopes of clinching promotion were dashed in another low-scoring game as they lost to Tonge by three wickets at Huyton Road.

Young Jack Critchley top scored for them with 25 as they struggled to 95 all out with Hasib Patel claiming 5-29 and Daniel Hunt 3-35.

Tonge didn’t find batting easier and Holt was again to the fore with 28 to help his side over the line as Critchley also topped a good personal day with 4-27.

Walkden could not take advantage of Adlington’s slip-up as they were beaten by five wickets at Higham Park by Atherton.

Greg Greenough with 49 and James Mulqueeny (35 not out) led Atheton’s successful run chase despite Oliver Gaskell taking 3-42.

Batting first, Walkden had made155 all out with Tom Gaskell top scoring on 60 and Mo Razzaq chipping in with 20 as Matt Lilley bowled well to take 5-31.

Realistically the second promotion slot is between Adlington and Walkden who meet in the final game with Adlington holding a one-point advantage, but should that game be rained off then Little Lever could still pip them if they then won their last match.

Daisy Hill defeated Golborne by 65 runs at St James Street with skipper Mike Leeming leading the way with the bat as he made a fine 74 out of their total of 194.

James Mann chipped in with a useful 25 as Ben Lyon toiled manfully to restrict them with 5-59.

Lyon then made a useful 33 with the bat but, despite Jamie Foster adding 49, the rest of the batsmen struggled against the bowling of Chris Charters (4-37) and Mayank Patel (3-59) and Golborne were all out for 129.

Bottom side Blackrod gained a welcome win at the expense of Eagley, who fell 53 runs short of their target of 192.

Tom Mitchell made 43, Matt Leigh 25 and Stu Leigh 24 but good bowling from Stephen Glover (3-28) and Charlie Fletcher (3-21) helped bowl them out for 139.

Glover had earlier contributed 34 to Blackrod’s total of 191-8 with Matt Baty top scoring on 54 and useful knocks throughout the innings, despite Mitchell also taking 4-43.

Sunday’s Stafford Trophy semi-finals saw the holders Little Hulton and Darcy Lever reach the final after two hard-fought games.

Little Hulton got through by a margin of 34 runs against Westhoughton at the Old Vicarage, having batted first and made 222-9.

Waqar Idrees top scored with 58, Habib Ur Rehman backed him up well with 44, as did Asim Bhatti on 37.

Westhoughton gave it a good go but in the end they were restricted to 188-8 despite Jordan Higham making 52 and Connor Kirkham 28no.

Meanwhile, Darcy Lever edged past Farnworth Social Circle by just 10 runs in a thrilling game.

Gareth Hopkinson with 45, Bilal Khan (29) and Adeel Hanif (30) helped them to reach 201 despite 3-24 from Andrew Brooks.

Tim Barrow threatened to win the game with a rapid 80 but only Jamie Bohannon and Chris Thomson with 21 apiece offered much support.

Zakir Bashir (4-32) and Toseef Hanif (3-35) did the damage with the ball.