BOLTON'S Junior Inter-league team lost their return fixture against Bury.

Bolton were 34 runs behind at the interval due to a good batting performance from the home team, but the second innings saw Bolton's fielding improve and they held Bury to 72.

Their second bat brought good scores from Jenny Chadwick (18), Kim Heaton (12), Rachel Crilly (9) and Lucy Chadwick (9), but the Bury side remained strong and took the match 186-163.

The consolation for Bolton is that the team is made up of a young, talented group of players, who look to have a great future in rounders ahead of them.

Astra Ladies made their way into the final of the Horwich Shield by the smallest of margins, when they beat fellow M Section team Hulton Lane Ladies by two runs.

Hulton led at half time by 11 runs thanks to fine batting from Alison Leader (16), Claire Brady (21) and Olwyn Fay (22) but Astra turned the game around with their second bat, Lorraine Kemp (10) Diane Smith (13), to win the match 141-139.

Astra now meet Section N high-flyers Future XI in the final, who defeated Esporta Ladies B 185-174.

Darcy Lever CC have two teams in the draw for the semi finals of the Chadwick Cup. Darcy A beat Nationwide by an innings with June Duckworth scoring 22, Louise Hague (16) and Sara Gradwell (16), but Darcy's B team had a closer encounter with Rupert Ladies B winning the game 178-141.

Walkden CC A join them after they beat Highfield XI in an exciting game that saw the lower section team winning at half time. Walkden picked up the pace with their second bat and came out eventual winners 114-102.

Rupert Ladies A beat Westside XI to make up the four teams through to the semi finals.

Newtrend dealt Section C championship contenders Adlington CC a blow when they beat the second placed team 142-121, Mandy Ashworth (23), Kate Harrington (19) and Vicky Smith (15) were the top scorers for the winners.

St Teresa's had a convincing win against Lincoln XI to join three other teams in second place, all on 14 points behind Bolton Castle. Teresa's batting was the key to their win, with Kerry Holden 25), Fran Kiley (27) and Lisa Starkey (21) topping the scores.

On Friday, Bolton Intermediate inter-league team take on Bury at Elton Vale SC on Friday, July 23, at 7pm for the second time this season, hoping to repeat their earlier win.

The Pike and Dixon Shield semi finals will all be played at Hulton Lane. Tonight: Wellington XI v St Teresa's; Thursday, July 22: Kearsley CC v MSJ; Wednesday, July 28: The Brierfield v Bradbury Ladies, Lower Pools v Darcy Lever C.