Westhoughton may have been given the kick up the backside that might ultimately prove to be a turning point in their quest to land the Bolton League championship.

The leaders went into last weekend facing two home games and looking to consolidate their 25-point lead over rivals Greenmount and Walkden.

Yet they quickly found out what can happen to the best laid plans when they were skittled out for 104 by Heaton, and although they twice threatened to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, they eventually went down by two wickets.

Walkden, meanwhile, were ominously moving into second place after inflicting an eight-wicket defeat on Greenmount, the side they displaced, and suddenly the title race was wide open.

Westhoughton and Greenmount managed to get their acts together on Sunday with wins over Farnworth SC and Tonge respectively, but Walkden stepped up the pressure by claiming their second victory in 24 hours.

That brought Westhoughton's lead over Walkden down to 15 points and it will be how they react to that situation that could decide the championship.

Any slip this weekend could see Walkden leapfrog them into top spot, underlining what many observers feel; that the champions look to have enough strength in depth to go on and retain their title.

This weekend, both sides again have home fixtures, with Westhoughton entertaining Tonge, and Walkden taking on Eagley.

And Tonge may not be the pushovers they might have been a few weeks ago, as was illustrated last week when, after beating Farnworth SC, they came within an ace of making it a double win, only narrowly losing out to Greenmount on Sunday.

Nigel Partington's return to Tonge after starting the season at Egerton, has instilled some steel into the Castle Hill side and if they play to their potential, it could make life difficult for Westhoughton

Walkden, also know that they can ill-afford to write off Eagley, but with David Smith in good form with both bat and ball, and the likes of Mike Bennison, Bernard Reidy and Phil Ingram starting to look hungry for success again, they look capable of taking on any side.

Last weekend was also one to remember for Farnworth, who produced back-to-back wins for the first time in a while. And they have a good chance of making it three in a row tomorrow when they entertain bottom of the table Little Lever.