THE two local cricket league titles were settled yesterday - with both champion teams losing!

Kearsley lost their first match of the season but won the Bolton League championship and Walshaw were beaten by Adlington but also had enough points in the bag to clinch the title.!

Kearsley were beaten by 43 runs at Heaton but second placed Egerton lost at Farnworth Social Circle, which meant that with two matches remaining they cannot now be overtaken.

Kearsley last tasted title success in 1993 and secretary Gary Thornley believes some of the players who have come into the side this season have made the difference.

"Our pro Faz Akber has been tremendous. He's still only 19 but his bowling plus that of Mel Whittle and the batting of Australian Jason Swift has transformed the side."

In fact Kearsley have been so impressed with Akber that they offered him a contract for a further two years and he has accepted.

"That's the icing on the cake for us," said the secretary. "We know what he can do and I'm sure that he'll be an even better player next year."

"We would have liked to have gone through the season unbeaten and clinched the title with a victory but I don't suppose we can have everything," said Gary Thornley.