THE New Year saw the return of Bolton's two winter rounders leagues but not all of the players came back.

Adlington did not turn up for their Farnworth League match on Sunday morning, while Bolton Castle and Hulton Lane Ladies failed to raise teams in the Halliwell League.

In the John Smith's Farnworth League, Advance Computer Systems beat Capital by just nine runs in a close finish.

The match between Hanson and Imago was close after the first innings. But Hanson ended up winning by 22 runs to stay two points ahead of Siddons, who beat FSC CC A by 26. Bolton Lads' and Girls' Club had a 100 per cent record as a full team, but their luck ran out this week as they lost by just two runs to Halliwell Allsorts, who had a ten-run start and were five ahead on the first innings.

Pineapple XI had the edge over Farmers XI in both innings of a scratch start match, winning by 23 runs.

St Mary's players were keen to get a game after scheduled opponents Bolton Castle cried off, so they helped out Fox Trots and Darcy XI, both of whom were short-handed for their matches.

Those who joined Fox Trots found themselves in a losing team, as Smithills Coaching House powered to a 48-run victory, but it was a different story in the Darcy XI match, where Lower Pools were comfortably beaten by 66 runs. The win put Darcy level on points with Smithills -- and with St Mary's too.

Results: John Smith's Farnworth League: FSCCC A 165 Siddons 191; Imago 123 Hanson 145; Victoria 211 FSCCC B 101; Advance Computer Systems 140 Capital 131; Adlington conceded to Bolton Motor Bodies.

Halliwell League: Bolton Lads & Girls Club 117 Halliwell Allsorts 119; Farmers XI 110 Pineapple XI 133; Fox Trots 131 Smithills Coaching House 179; Darcy XI 171 Lower Pools 105; Bolton Castle conceded to St Mary's; Hulton Lane Ladies conceded to Westhoughton & District.

John Smith's Farnworth League

P W D L Pt

Advance CS... 10 9 0 1 18

Hanson... 10 9 0 1 18

Siddons... 10 8 0 2 16

Capital... 10 7 0 3 14

Adlington... 10 4 0 6 8

FSCCC A... 10 3 1 6 7

Imago... 10 3 1 6 7

Victoria... 10 3 0 7 6

Bolton MB... 10 2 0 8 4

FSCCC B... 10 1 0 9 2

Halliwell League

W'houghton... 11 9 0 2 18

Fox Trots... 11 8 1 2 17

Darcy XI... 10 7 0 3 14

Smithills CH... 10 7 0 3 14

St Mary's... 11 7 0 4 14

Bolton Castle... 11 6 0 5 12

Pineapple XI... 11 6 0 5 12

Farmers XI... 11 5 0 6 10

Bolton L & G... 11 3 1 7 7

Halliwell Allsorts... 11 3 0 8 6

Lower Pools... 11 3 0 8 6

Hulton L Ladies... 11 0 0 11 0