THERE were some predictable English summer showers which affected the Bolton Association on Saturday, but also a blip in form suffered by leaders Walshaw against Spring View.

Enjoying home advantage and an excellent recent record, Walshaw must have fancied their chances but made a terrible start.

They slumped to 24-4 with the usually reliable Jonathan Fielding and Brett Collins both out for ducks.

Although it was a tough wicket, Spring View bowled the reigning champions out for just 103 runs in 38 overs then with the advantage of an extra ten overs looked on the way to a shock victory.

They were racing towards their target with 75-6 after 34 overs but then, much to Spring View's horror, the rains came and the game was drawn.

The highest individual score of the day came from Mihar Wadakar, Atherton's Indian professional who hammered 83 not out, with six thundering sixes.

He was backed up by 67 from Paul McLoughlin, although Steve Walsh kept the away side in check with five wickets against his old club.

A&T, however, were demolished by a five wicket haul from Phillip Wakefield, and were 84 all out, despite Bazid Khan's half-century.

Elsewhere Standish beat Blackrod by five wickets, with the latter grabbing 143 in their innings, which included 52 from Neil Lawless.

Standish responded with 146-5, which included an excellent unbeaten 52 from Mark Eddelston while David Chadwick scored a boundary four to clinch the win.

All other games were drawn, with Edgworth and Little Hulton sharing the points. A score of 79 from Little Hulton's Paul Craig helped them to 168-8 but Edgworth were then struggling on 22-3 after 17 overs when the game was abandoned. With Andy Sutherland seeming to be on fire with the ball - he had taken two early wickets - perhaps Edgworth's prayers were answered as the rains came.

Darcy Lever scored 202 against Daisy Hill, which featured 58 from Nick Fawcett. Daisy were on 139-5 when the heavens opened, leaving Darcy with a winning draw.

Elton also bagged a similar result, when they totalled 182-9 against Golborne, who could only reply with 153-9 in their 44 overs.

Adlington's Darryl Hitchen hit an unbeaten 81 to help them to 169-6, before pro Matt Taylor helped himself to a startling seven wickets which kept Clifton's reply down to 156-8 in a drawn game.