THE curtain comes down on the local cricket season tomorrow with Tonge ready to steal the show and claim their fourth successive championship.

It's never been done before and one club hoping against hope that it won't happen are Westhoughton, the only team capable of snatching the crown away from the Castle Hill side.

That, however, looks highly unlikely as Tonge need only three points to make sure of the title.

And for that to happen it means opponents Farnworth Social Circle will not only have to beat them but deny Tonge taking any bonus points from the game.

It also means that Westhoughton will have to pick up winning points at Little Lever and although cricket secretary Tom Parker will not write off his club's chances, he does admit it is a very tall order.

"We will be going for the win because anything can happen but if, in the end, Tonge do take the title, then every credit to them," he said.

He added that the championship was probably decided a few weeks ago. "I think we lost it when we were beaten by Horwich. That really did our chances a lot of harm.

"At the halfway stage of the season I thought Bradshaw might be the team we would have to beat. We always felt we were perhaps a bowler short but in the end Tonge know how to win championships."

In the unlikely event of the two teams finishing level on points, Tonge would take the championship by virtue of a superior merit average.

The Bolton Association title was settled two weeks ago with Walshaw claiming the crown. Tomorrow it is the turn of the second teams to face the championship crunch with four clubs all capable of coming out on top.

However, leaders Blackrod, who entertain Little Hulton, and second placed Atherton, away to Darcy Lever, appear to be the two sides in the driving seat.

The Bolton League second team championship will also be decided tomorrow. Only two teams can take the title, leaders Heaton, who face bottom club Farnworth and Bradshaw, who go to Kearsley.

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