Warburton's Bolton League By David Magilton THE most exciting title race for many a year continued unabated on Saturday leaving Kearsley and Walkden still neck and neck at the top.

Westhoughton slipped a little but Tonge are still determined to keep their championship hopes alive with another victory.

The leaders were rarely tested and they both ran home winners by eight wickets.

Kearsley were never in trouble at Little Lever as they overhauled the home side's 147-6 with Steve Davies unbeaten on 70. Lever's opener Lee Baldwin played a solid role batting throughout the innings to finish unbeaten on 83. Mel Whittle took 4-59.

Mike Watkinson hit 42 out of Walkden's 135-2 as they comfortably accounted for Bradshaw who made 130-8. Their only joy was a stand of 41 between Simon Ainsworth and Phil Dickinson as John Smith took 4-50.

Westhoughton nearly came a cropper at Farnworth Social Circle where only the umpire changing his mind saved them from defeat.

Circle made 175-8 with Tim Barrow 74 and Richard Hope 49. In reply Westhoughton slumped to 131-9 despite 43 from Brad White. Dean Eckersley, who took 4-56, thought he had a fifth wicket when the umpire gave out the last batsmen caught behind to the final ball of the innings, only to change his mind. Ricardo Powell had 4-70.

Tonge had an easy win at Greenmount. Nisar hit 64 and Dion Taljard 41 as they reached 163-9 with Mark Stewart and Saeed Anwar taking four wickets each. In reply Greenmount crashed to 99 all out with Taljard 5-51 and Ian Taylor 4-23.

Eagley continued their fine form of late with a nine wicket demolition of Astley Bridge. Mahboob became Eagley's top wicket taker for an amateur in a season when he passed the 80 wickets mark held since 1944 by Jack Rogerson. He finished with 4-45 and Steve Foster 4-8 as Bridge collapsed to 78. Tim Rees 34 and Iain Mitchell 36 guided Eagley home for the loss of one wicket.

It was the David White show again at Horwich where his all-round show almost single-handedly beat Farnworth by four wickets. The visitors were all out for 73 with White, despite bowling off half his usual run-up so as not to aggravate a hamstring problem, taking 8-35. In reply White finished 42 not out after Lee Childs had taken 5-18.

There was an exciting finish at Heaton who fell just six runs short of Egerton's 170-6. Nigel Partington hit an unbeaten 54 as Narendra Hirwani took 4-64. In reply Heaton looked to be on course for victory at 160-6 before off spinner Paul Burton took the last four wickets to finish with 5-34.