Downhill for champions Walshaw IT'S tough at the top and Walshaw can vouch for that as they slumped to their third successive defeat since claiming the Association title.

They will still finish the season next week as runaway leaders and worthy champions but there is no hiding the fact that they did want to go through the campaign unbeaten.

The reason they lost this latest match was due in the main to Darcy Lever pro Jason Whittaker who passed another milestone when he took his 100th wicket of the season to add to the 1,000 runs he recently completed.

It's not been the best of seasons for Darcy but it would have been much worse but for Whittaker's contribution.

Against Walshaw he claimed seven wickets as he helped his side defend what looked to be a vulnerable total of 130-9 after Jonathan Fielding had picked up six wickets for 24.

Yet once Whittaker got into the swing of things wickets began to tumble and Walshaw were left licking their wounds after being dismissed for a lowly 69, Fielding scoring 28 of those runs

Clifton were foiled by bad light as they chased victory at Edgworth but their cause wasn't helped by their slow over rate when the home side were batting.

Commanding

Edgworth had set a commanding 205-7 but 72 from opener Geoff Griffiths put Clifton on their way while at the other end Tony Kelly was unbeaten on 62 and looking to snatch the decisive runs when play was halted.

The players never went back after that and the match was drawn, Edgworth's total being built on Denver Thornton's innings of 57 and Nick Kernick 52.

Another side to suffer only a double figure total were Daisy Hill who were bowled out for 96 by Golborne.

Geoff Stockton 3-33 and pro Ian Critchley 3-21 plus two wickets each for Dave Roberts and Chris Benbow did the damage while earlier Critchley top scored with 84 not out in Golborne's total of 162-6.

The only crumb of comfort for Daisy came with the performance of some of their younger players, Steve Evans top scoring with 25 and Michael Leeming 18.

Blackrod picked up a healthy six-wicket win at Elton after restricting the home side to 105-9. In reply Blackrod eased to the target reaching 106-4.

In the battle of the two Wigan sides, Standish had the better of a draw after pro Sarker's 59 had helped them to 186-7.

Against that Spring View were restricted to 138-8. Hall shines in Lostock draw ANDY Hall is determined to leave Atherton in a blaze of glory.

The professional is not returning next season but he is leaving a fine legacy of runs after scoring yet another sparkling century.

His innings of 131 against Lostock included eight sixes, was his fourth three figure score of the season - three of them coming in the last five weekends - and like the rest he was unbeaten at the finish.

That helped Atherton to a healthy total of 213-8 but Lostock played their part in an entertaining game as Martin Cornes and Phil Knowles took them to 145-1. Cornes hit 76 and Knowles 40 but with the light fading Jonathan Fearick stepped up to play a starring role.

He came on for a second spell and finished with figures of 2-24 which left Lostock at 177-7 with a share of the draw.

The Lee brothers almost bowled Little Hulton to victory over Astley and Tyldesley.

Mark Lee finished with impressive figures of seven wickets for 34 runs off 17 overs while his brother Ian took the other two wickets to fall for 45.

They had come on after Dave Clare 46 had threatened the Little Hulton total of 131 but once the Lee pair got into their stride the innings ended on 121-9 and the match drawn.

Astley and Tyldesley also had their seven-wicket bowling hero. Pro Nigel Doyle finished with 7-46, while Paul Craig's 37, pro David Parkinson 18 and Alan Gaskell's 28 boosted the Little Hulton total.

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ANDY Hall is determined to leave Atherton in a blaze of glory.

The professional who is not returning next year hit his third century in five weekends with a scorching 131 at Lostock that included eight sixes.

He has now hit four hundreds this season and he has finished each one of them not out.

His latest helped Atherton to 213-8 but credit to Lostock who hit back in some style.

They reached 145-1 with Mark Cornes 76 and Phil Knowles 40 but once they had gone Atherton regained control in the fading light.

Jonathan Fearick cajme back for a second spell and finished with 6-24 but Lostock still claimed points for the draw at 177-7. Little Hulton's Alan Gaskell batting while being watched by A & T's wicket-keeper David Clare(H3732/7).