Association side in narrow loss THE Bolton Association interleague team played the South Moorlands Cricket League and batted first to score 136 for 9 in 35 overs.

David Garner, batting down the order top scored with a rapid 24 to add to useful contributions from Tim Monks, Jake Gibbons Neil Williams and Matthew Barker.

McCarthy rode his luck (he was bowled off a no-ball and dropped three times) to score 53 as the Stoke League managed a single wicket victory.

In the final preliminary game in the North West Interleague Competition, the Association were up against The Bolton League at Farnworth Social Circle with the Derek Slater Memorial Trophy also at stake.

Bolton League were asked to bat first and a hostile opening spell from David Gornall (4 for 30) had the Bolton League in trouble at 10 for 3, and later 63 for 7.

Sensible batting from Paul Tong (36) was steering the League to respectability when he was run-out by a direct hit from the boundary from Gornall.

The League were bowled out for 114, with Ben Morrison taking 3 for 19 and Matthew Deardon 2 for 9.

The Association openers Garner and Monks reached 25 without mishap but Chris Tye, bowling off a short run, took 4 for 20 as the Association struggled, with only Sam Cruickshanks (30) and Neil Williams (13) reaching double figures.

The score reached 111 for 9 in the penultimate over when Paul Keenan managed to hit Ainscough for four as the Association just prevailed.

The narrow victory means that neither team have qualified for the semi-final.

In the domestic competition, wins for Atherton and Darcy Lever mean a play-off is necessary.

Paul Keenan retired and took the vital wicket of Gornall in Atherton's victory over Spring View.

Ben Morrison scored a bright 35 as Little Hulton beat Daisy Hill by 22 runs.

Clifton's David Garner returned the seasons best figures of 6-4 and scored 35 but still finished on the losing side to Bolton Indians.

Blackrod scored 123 for 2 (Matthew Barker 37*) to beat Adlington by nine runs for whom J Howells scored 23.