THE Bolton League cantered to their fifth successive Trinity Cup triumph, with an eight-wicket victory in the annual challenge match.

Bolton Association had a nightmare game from start to finish as they failed to test their old rivals, which was a pity considering the sizeable crowd that had gathered at Darcy Lever.

The Association won the toss and batted, but from 20-1, things went from bad to worse and they were skittled out for just 82. Farnworth's medium pacer Tim Barrow was the man-of-the-match, with a repeat of his superb bowling display of the Inter-League final to rip the heart out of the middle order batting.

To add to the Association's demise, a mix-up ended with Tony Kelly and their last real hope of salvation, Little Hulton's pro Mahmood, at one end. Kelly started to walk but the League skipper David Morris objected. The umpire ruled that Mahmood was the one who had to go, and he was far from impressed as he stormed off.

John Morris also felt aggrieved when he was given out caught behind and had to be persuaded to vacate the crease.

In reply, the League lost Gary Garner early on, but any hopes the Association had of clawing their way back into the game were crushed by Tonge's in-form pro Adil Nisar. He has been in superb nick with the bat all season and he ensured there were to be no hiccups with a masterly unbeaten half-century.

Bolton League President Peter Stafford was full of praise for the way that Darcy Lever had staged the event.