ROB Faulkner will captain the Bolton Association when they go into this year's MEN inter-league knockout competition.

The captain of champions Walshaw wil lead the side against the Saddleworth League at Saddleworth on June 9.

He takes over from Tony Kelly, who despite losing the captaincy is stil included in the 13 man squad from which the selectors will choose the final line-up.

The selectors, Steve Walsh, Mike Davies and Phil Royle have chosen a blend of youth and experience that they hope will lead the Association to a title they last won in 1999.

Faulkner's appointment is not surprising. Not only has he led Walshaw to a hat-trick of championship successes but he also topped the batting averages last term.

But it is the selection of some of the Association's younger players that is interesting.

Clifton's Andrew Griffiths deserves his place after an outstanding start to the season. Not only has he dominated his club's play with the ball but he has also flourished with the bat.

Alongside him are Darcy Lever pair Nick Fawcett and Andy Stocks, who have shown a high level of compsure backed up by some fine performances while there is also a call-up for Little Hulton's Mark Penny, another player who is beginning to make his presence felt in the Association.

Backing them up is Anthony Harris of Walshaw, who claimed his second successive league wicketkeeping prize last year, and whose batting has improved so much so that he now opens the innings for his club.

Spring View provide a trio of experienced players for the squad. Alongside Tony Kelly are Paul Matthews and Andy Fox, who have all faced the test of representative cricket in the past.

Last year's top bowler Terry Southworth will no doubt be handed the new ball while in the early batting order will be Atherton's Phil West, who confirmed his current form with a century and a half-century in successive matches against Little Hulton.

New to the squad is former Standish pro Pankaj Tripathi, now of Astley and Tyldesley, and he will be joined by his former colleague at Green Lane, Stuart Knowles.