TONGE, for the first time in years, may not have an interest in the Bolton League championship, but they could have decided this year's competition following their 11-run defeat of leaders Walkden.

That let in Westhoughton to go back to the top following their 21-run win over Farnworth, but it was Walkden's slip at Tonge that was the shock of the

weekend.

The top two clubs were due to have met in what was billed as a title showdown on Saturday, only for that game to be called off because of an unfit pitch.

So it looked as if Westhoghton had missed out on their chance to regain the top spot, as it was widely felt that Walkden would prove too strong for Tonge.

Even the Castle Hill side's total of 185-7, built on an innings of 68 by captain Simon Anderton, looked vulnerable against the potent Walkden batting line-up, yet that never happened, although Karl Bates did his best to win the game for them until he was last man out for 64.

Meanwhile Westhoughton were picking up their win over Farnworth, although they too had a few scares before that was achieved.

Main reason for that was Westhoughton's modest total of 137 after Farnworth deputy pro, ex-Lancashire man Ian Austin, had picked up 5-62. Adam Coates top scored with 49, and pro Antonio Mayers 21, yet it was the West Indian's contribution with the ball that made the difference.

Mayers took 5-42, with ten of his 19 overs maidens, and that shot out the visitors for only 116, David Tong top scored with 48, while Austin played his part with 18.

In contrast to the large numbers of low scores, Greenmount hit 224-7 against Horwich, but it could not guarantee them a win.

The total was mainly due to the unbeaten partnership of Mark Stewart (59 not out) and Nigel Franklyn (45 not out), who came together late in the game, but then piled on the agony for the Horwich bowlers,

Against that, however, Horwich were never really in any trouble in reaching 163-3, pro David White unbeaten on 66 to add to his earlier bowling figures of 4-62.

Eagley enjoyed an emphatic 82-run win after dismissing Farnworth Social Circle for only 50.

Steve Foster and Mike O'Rourke did most of the damage with the ball as the batsmen found them virtually unplayable. Foster finished with 5-17 and O'Rourke 5-30.

Earlier, Eagley totalled 132-8, O'Rourke the top scorer with 41, while Dean Eckersley had 4-81, and pro Ryan Cunningham 3-50,

Astley Bridge were com fortable eight wicket winners after theu dismissed Kerarsley for 65, pro Delugoda taking 5-23. Rakib Mahmood, brother of Lancashire's Sajid, then hit 28 in Bri dge's winning 66-2.

Bradshaw also had something of an easy win, and a shock one at that, as they accounted for Egerton by seven wickets.