LAST weekend was so successful for local teams and individuals alike, that it is difficult to know just where to start.

Some kind of history was made at Kearsley on Sunday in that never before, in five previous attempts, has the Bolton League beaten the Northern Premier League in an inter-league final.

Several players could justifiably claim a major role in the triumph, not least skipper Dave Morris, whose half-century, superbly supported in turn by Garner, Northrop and Rayment, provided the bedrock on which the innings was built.

When it was our turn to bowl, it was Tim Barrow who made the biggest impact.

When he began his spell, the visitors were cruising along, having lost just the one wicket. When his 10 overs had been completed, the Northern League were in disarray.

During the eventful course of his 4-41, he dismissed the two most dangerous batsmen, saw four catches put down off his bowling, watched gratefully as Dale Jones helped him out with two vital wickets at the other end, and then applauded as brother Chris held a stunning catch on the square leg boundary to provide him with his final wicket.

That wicket helped restore family relations, which must have been in some jeopardy following Chris's run out earlier in the day.

Jones himself carried on his good work on the League's behalf with another excellent spell.

In his four inter-league games to date, he has taken 10 wickets for 127 runs from 37 overs, six of whom have been batsmen in the top six of the order.

Jon Fearick, too, bowled with pace, and thoroughly deserved the final wicket, while Ian Taylor was his usual impressive self with the ball in his hand, as well as giving a lesson in the field for reliability and enthusiasm.

Rick Northrop had a good game behind the stumps on a track that was never wicket-keeper friendly.

In the Colts Competition, the U18 side enjoyed an outstanding win over the Association, never the easiest of opponents at that level, with excellent contributions from Adam Worrall, Aaron Barton-Wells, Chris Tye, Neuman Ismail, and, particularly Matthew Dearden, who took 4-12 and Ryan Senior, who hit a fine half-century.

Sadly, it was not enough to take them into the Final, which will now be contested by the Ribblesdale League and the CLL, winners of our group on run average.

Three other individuals who would have enjoyed their weekend were Nishit Shetty, whose unbeaten 80 against Bradshaw took him past the 1,000-run mark, Amal Dalugoda, whose superb 89 at Egerton deserved to win the game -- although they lost -- and Eagley's Steve Foster, whose current tally of 57 wickets is bettered only by Hirwani, Cunningham, Stewart and Mayers.

Steve's immediate target is 62, which will be a career best, one more than his 1996 total which gave him a share in the Astley Bridge amateur record.

On Sunday, Farnworth Social Circle's Birtwistle Cup triumph heralded a unique achievement for Ian Edwards, who has now won every team award, Cup and League, on offer in both League and Association at first, second and U18 level.

In addition, he has represented both leagues at inter-league level, won a Lancashire Knockout Cup medal, and, back when it all began in 1973/74, was voted BDCA Junior Player-of-the-Year in successive seasons. And what is more, he has done it all for the same club!

Circle should be proud of him.

And finally to Westhoughton. The only black spot of the day at Kearsley on Sunday came with the teatime announcement that Settle had scored 255-7.

But our worries were unfounded, as Mayers, Rick Parker, Mark Atherton, and, yet again, Ian Pilkington came good in spite of, I am told, the home side's time-wasting tactics in the field.

Now comes the final test, Bootle at Old Trafford. Steve Parker's side will not start as favourites, but that should not worry them unduly. As I recall, they were not overwhelming favourites back in 1998. All we ask is the same kind of "underdog" performance in 2004.