THE Bolton Association title chase is threatening to be a three-horse race as the season approaches the half way mark.

Standish, Darcy Lever and Walshaw have opened up a gap at the top where they are separated by just four points.

Standish and Darcy are level at the top on 95 points but they are both looking over their shoulders at Walshaw who have a game in hand.

Darcy and Standish have professionals in Devendra Bundela and Glen Batticciotto who are starring every week while Walshaw, who have won the Association title four times in the last six seasons, have a number of players who can turn a game.

Bundela was again in superb form with the bat and ball as Darcy were the only one of the top trio to pick up maximum points.

He scored 93 as Darcy set Atherton a target of 209 for the loss of just two wickets and then he claimed six wickets at Darcy won by 28 runs.

David Morris struck an unbeaten half century for Darcy and Nick Fawcett scored 46.

Atherton's top scorer was Philip Wakefield with a fine 63 and Philip West chipped in with 43.

Bundela has been making the headlines with his batting this season as he leads the batting averages with a host of huge scores and has only been dismissed three times in league games.

But he is also proving a more than capable bowler with 25 wickets so far this season at an average cost of just 14 runs.

Batticciotto also maintained his superb form for Standish as he took four wickets to help dismiss bottom club Lostock for 90.

Michael Crookson took four wickets before Batticciotto hit 62 not out as Standish reached the winning target with no wickets lost.

Like Standish, Walshaw missed out on maximum points because it was impossible for them to score 175 runs which would have given them a bonus point. The Bury side, however, were in dominant form against Spring View.

Once they dismissed pro Arindam Sarkar for 66, the Walshaw bowlers were on top, dismissing their visitors for 153.

Jason Whittaker took 4-39 and Danny Hornby 3-60.

Walshaw then raced to an impressive victory in just 30 overs.

It was game over once openers Anthony Harris and Whittaker got into their stride.

They produced a 115 first wicket stand with Harris scoring 68 and his partner 44.

John Broad impressed with the ball for View, taking three of the four Walshaw wickets to fall at a cost of just 21 runs.

There is a 19-point gap between Walshaw and fourth placed side, Golborne, who lost by 48 runs to Little Hulton, who are a point behind them in fifth.

Little Hulton's batsmen were in form with Ian Lee hitting 54, Ian Gibson 51 and Mark Penny 48 as the home side built up an impressive total of 246-9, despite the best efforts of Golborne captain Dale Tyrer who took 6-59. Tyrer then hit 48 as his side was all out for 198, Neil Jarvis taking 5-42.