MIST and frost greeted the early starters for Sunday's Winter Rounders, but as the John Smith's Farnworth League matches started, the mist cleared and the sun struggled through, much to the annoyance of fielders in the game between Hanson and Royal Hotel who had difficulty seeing into the sun and even more difficulty sinking into the boggy patches on the pitch.

The Volunteer had previously picked up only two points, by beating bottom side Carl Chapman, but took another two points from them on Sunday because Chapman's could not raise a team.

Darcy had a comfortable win over Siddons, Adlington beat Imago by 20 runs and Royal Hotel saw off the challenge of Hanson with a 39 run win after leading by 19 on the first innings.

In Section 'B', The White Horse had the rare experience of winning by an innings when they beat Harper Green by an innings and twelve. Mytham Ladies extended their winning streak with a comfortable victory over Tonge Moor Conservative Club whilst Tonge Fold XI and ASAP kept up the pressure at the top with wins over Advance Computer Systems and Bolton Motor Bodies respectively.

Dale XI beat Westhoughton XI to stay top of the Eagley League and Heaton XI beat Freedom Ladies by 29 runs to go two points clear of them in second place. This result puts Freedom in joint third place, tied with Eagley who didn't have a match, and Pure Asphalt who scraped a two-run win over J&P Ladies who are still looking for their first points.

Darcy XI dropped out of the top spot tie in the Halliwell League when, with just seven players, they lost to K.Js by eleven runs. Morris Roofing and Westhoughton & District meanwhile, both had comfortable wins to maintain their positions.

Bolton Lads & Girls Club had a start of 60 runs against Morris Roofing and lasted the full 33 good balls in the first innings to be five runs ahead. The second innings was a different affair, however, as Christine Nicholson bowled out their nine players in nine balls for just three runs.

Quite a feat, but Chris was a little disappointed because she had only equalled her record set about 20 years ago and would have been delighted to have beaten it, particularly as she has been cruelly referred to as Morris Roofing's "geriatric bowler".

Farmers XI are having a good season and recovered from a shaky first innings against J.R. Ladies to win comfortably thanks to seven second innings rounders, including three in succession.

Smithills Coaching House had just eight players against the nine of B.R.U.F.C. but capitalised on their 50-run start to win by 40 after dismissing their opponents with six balls to spare in the second innings.

Cheetham Ladies are still looking for their first win after going down by 20 runs to the more experienced Lower Pools.

END (478 words)

Winter Rounders Results for Sunday 9th December 2001

Eagley League

Heaton XI, 311 Freedom Ladies 282; J & P Ladies 102, Pure Asphalt 104; Westhoughton 141, Dale XI 216.

John Smith's Farnworth League

Section 'A': Hanson 130, Royal Hotel 169; Imago 118, Adlington 138; Siddons 103, Darcy 150; Carl Chapman conceded to The Volunteer. Section 'B': Bolton Motor Bodies 122, A.S.A.P. 137; Mytham Ladies 185, Tonge Moor CC 119; The White Horse 92 (I), Harper Green 80; Tonge Fold XI 144, Advance Computer Systems 112.

Halliwell League: J/R 105, Farmers XI 140; K.Js 135, Darcy XI 124; Lower Pools 133, Cheetham Ladies 113; Morris Roofing 198, Bolton Lads & Girls Club 109; Smithills Coaching House 169, B.R.U.F.C. 129; Westhoughton & District 208, Hulton Lane Ladies 108.

Winter Rounders Fixtures for Sunday 16th December 2001

John Smith's Farnworth League

Section 'A': Adlington v Siddons; Carl Chapman v Hanson; Darcy v The Volunteer; Royal Hotel v Imago. Section 'B': A.S.A.P. v The White Horse; Advance Computer Systems v Mytham Ladies; Harper Green v Tonge Fold XI; Tonge Moor CC v Bolton Motor Bodies.

Halliwell League: B.R.U.F.C. v Westhoughton & District; Bolton Lads & Girls Club v Smithills Coaching House; Cheetham Ladies v Morris Roofing; Darcy XI v Lower Pools; Farmers XI v K.Js; Hulton Lane Ladies v J/R.