THE Winter Rounders season started successfully on Sunday with eight games in the John Smith's Farnworth league at Harper Green and six in the Halliwell league at Barlow Park.

Despite the weather forecasters predicting a dreadful day, all matches were played in good conditions although the pitches were a little soft.

In Farnworth Section 'B', Harper Green youngsters lost by an innings to A.S.A.P., but other results were fairly close.

Section 'A' defending champions Darcy faced Adlington who hope to be one of the pace-makers this season, but Darcy continued where they left off last season and won by 17 runs.

Siddons had just eight players against Hanson, but played very well and after trailing by eleven runs at the break, lost the match by 18. Whilst the scores were different, with winning margin was also 18 as Imago triumphed over Carl Chapman.

Royal Hotel (originally listed as The Grapes) recorded the biggest win in Section 'A' by beating The Volunteer, but the difference was only 20 runs as Royal recovered from being one behind on the first innings.

Advance Computer Systems had only themselves to blame for their single defeat at the hands of Bolton Motor Bodies because they fielded just ten players. If only!!!

Newcomers Mytham Ladies faced fellow Little Lever team The White Horse and made a winning start by 187 runs to 178, but in the battle of the Tonge clubs, Tonge Fold XI had a comfortable 42-run victory over Tonge Moor Conservative Club, a late entry to the League to neatly round off the numbers.

The Halliwell League applies handicaps to teams based on their summer league positions and the players they have registered. Needless to say, at least one team just had to complain. Morris Roofing (who share a zero start with Westhoughton & District) suggested they couldn't win from that position, but despite giving Darcy XI a 40-run start, won comfortably by 33 runs.

Westhoughton & District gave J.R. Ladies the maximum start, but still won by 93 runs in a relatively quick game.

Farmers XI were in disarray before their game against Lower Pools because they seemed to have just six or seven players, but had a full side when the match started and even put on two substitutes for the second innings. Even without the 20-run handicap, Farmers XI were ahead at the interval, however, Lower Pools raised their game in the second innings to cut the deficit, but some excellent bowling and determined batting saw Farmers XI to a 12-run victory.

The score sheet from the game between BRUFC and Bolton Lads & Girls Club did not include the names of the players and the headings were confusing to say the least. Even the handicap did not appear as such, but a phone call to the match referee confirmed that BRUFC won the match by four runs.

K.Js had to give Hulton Lane Ladies 60 runs, however the handicap was pretty accurate with K.Js grabbing the points by four runs, the same as the previous match, but the result between Smithills Coaching House and newcomers Cheetham Ladies was even closer with Cheetham making a winning start by just two runs.

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Winter Rounders League results for Sunday 7th October 2001 John Smith's Farnworth League

Section 'A': Carl Chapman 117, Imago 135; Darcy 159, Adlington 142; Hanson 162, Siddons 144; Royal Hotel 146, The Volunteer 126. Section 'B': Advance Computer Systems 168, Bolton Motor Bodies 169; Harper Green 71, A.S.A.P. 83 (I); Mytham Ladies 187, The White Horse 178; Tonge Moor CC 104, Tonge Fold XI 146.

Halliwell League

B.R.U.F.C. 121, Bolton Lads & Girls Club 117; K.Js 162, Hulton Lane Ladies 158; Lower Pools 160, Farmers XI 172; Morris Roofing 132, Darcy XI 99; Smithills Coaching House 138, Cheetham Ladies 140; Westhoughton & District 205, J/R 112.

Fixtures for Sunday 14th October 2001

John Smith's Farnworth League

Section 'A': Adlington v Royal Hotel; Imago v Darcy; Siddons v Carl Chapman; The Volunteer v Hanson.

Section 'B': Bl Motor Bodies v Harper Green; The White Horse v Advance Computer Systems; Tonge Fold XI v Mytham Ladies; A.S.A.P. v Tonge Moor Conservative Club.

Halliwell League

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