FARNWORTH finally went down to their first defeat of the season on Saturday - beaten by the side that looks set to provide them with the strongest title challenge.

Walkden won the match by 54 runs to climb into second place, still some way off claiming top spot but having sent a timely reminder of what may lie ahead.

Initially the leaders looked to have the match under control having limited the free-flowing Walkden batsmen to 194, and much of that total was made up by two solid contributions from pro Jason Swift (51) and Liam Jackson (47 not out).

Chris Barrow again picked up a five-wicket haul, this time at a cost of 47 runs, while Lee Childs signalled his return to full fitness after a niggling injury problem, with 3-54, followed by an innings that looked as if it could win the game.

He top scored with 42, and Tim Barrow added a useful 31 but that was the home sides only joy as they fell to 140 all out after spells of tidy bowling from David Smith (4-42) and Jonathan Fearick (3-28).

Last year's champions, Westhoughton, somehow cannot put their game right, and were bowled out for a meagre 95 leaving Little Lever handsome 108-run winners.

When the game started, however, it looked to be heading for the opposite result as Little Lever were labouring at 76-5. Ian Rushmore then came in and corrected that with a well-hit 53 to leave his side with a more than respectable total of 203.

Westhoughtons batsmen could do little right. Wickets fell at regular intervals, mainly to Jon Kerrigan (4-38) and Mohammed Adnam (3-15) and in the end, their only score of note came from pro Antonio Mayers with 25.

Astley Bridge achieved a welcome eight-wicket win at the expense of Bradshaw. That was achieved after bowling out the visitors for 106, pro Dalugoda claiming 7-39 and 18-year-old Andy Hough 3-28 on his first team debut.

Bridge replied with 107-2, Simon Entwistle 46 not out and Rick Northrop 42.

Eagley also had a comfortable win at Egerton, where they bowled out the home side for 108, Steve Foster 4-45 taking and Sid De Silva 4-38, while Bhazin Thakker, Egerton's deputy for Deeraj Jadhav, who is away on international duty, scored nearly half the total with 49 not out.

In Eagleys reply of 109-2, pro Mike ORourke was unbeaten on 54.

Greenmount romped to a convincing nine-wicket win over Farnworth SC after Andy Kerr and Mark Fallon had produced a partnership of 122. Kerr hit an immaculate 86 not out that could earn him a call-up to the League side for next weeks MEN Knockout semi-final against the Ribblesdale League, with Fallon 66. Circle had earlier reached 173-8, David Parkinson top scoring with 68.

Kearsley and Horwich piled up a stack of runs in an entertaining draw.

Kearsley pro Sherwin Ganga hit 101 not out off only 70 balls, Chris McDonald 50 and Jordan Thornley 45, in their 277-9, but Grant Long (91) led Horwichs robust response of 242-6, along with a half century from Ashley Williams.