TWO superb catches by Heaton's John Whittle probably cost new Bolton League champions Kearsley their chance of going through the season unbeaten.

Chasing Heaton's total of 182, Australian Jason Swift was building a possible matchwinning innings when he was out for 41 to a superb catch by Whittle.

And when Mel Whittle started to swing the bat in a last chance to avert defeat, Whittle was again the man of the moment scooping up another dramatic diving catch.

There were, of course, other telling factors, none more so than pro Parida's innings of 73 and Mark Mort's six wicket haul for 30 runs that left Kearsley all out for 139.

Kearsley, however, still claimed the championship following second placed Egerton's defeat at Farnworth Social Circle.

That game was very similar in pattern to the one at Lower Pools, Circle totalling a testing 194-7 then producing tight bowling and fine fielding to dismiss Egerton for 149.

Elliott top scored for Circle with 69 and was part of a second wicket partnership of 80 with Hope, who scored 41, while Walsh was 26 not out and Eckersley 25.

Egerton's reply had a disastrous start when they were reduced to 7-3 after six overs but Neil McGarrell 39 and Stuart Hornby 44 at least gave them something of a respectable total

Eagley totalled 222-8 against Farnworth, South African pair Brad White 54 and Jamie Wilson 77 putting on a partnership of 124. Against that Farnworth settled for the draw at 145-6, Martin Axford unbeaten on 65. Five clubs chase knockout spots WITH the championship settled, the attention now turns to qualification for next season's Lancashire Knockout with possibly five clubs, Egerton, Tonge, Westhoughton, Little Lever and Walkden chasing the three remaining places.

Tonge did their hopes no harm inflicting a 128 run defeat on Bradshaw thanks to an innings of 84 from Iqbal Sikander. Simon Anderton also made a hefty contribution of 67 to the 210-7 total then Iqbal completed the victory with the ball taking 6-36 to spin Bradshaw out for 82, ian Taylor as usual sharing the bowling honours with 4-37.

Westhoughton were made to suffer at Greenmount and just about hung on for the draw at 63-9 after Saeed Anwar had taken 4-22 and Mark Stewart 4-31. Earlier Greenmount had totalled 150-9, Anwar 53 and Mark Fallon 41, Lancashire's Gary Yates, desputising for injured pro Bhanabai, claiming 4-47 and Mahboob 4-81.

Little Lever's chances improved when they beat Astley Bridge by eight wickets. Lee Baldwin was again their man of the match taking 5-44 as Bridge totalled 116 before hitting 47 not out along with Paul Rayment's 39 not out in a winning reply of 129-2.

Walkden's outside chance of qualification was helped by their 53 run win at Horwich where Mike Bennison top scored with 41 in a total of 175-7.

In reply Horwich were bowled out for 122, David Smith 3-15 and Bernard Reidy 3-10.