TONGE are beginning to turn the screw on the rest of the Bolton League.

They romped to a ten wicket win at Eagley, while only Walkden of the chasing clubs could match that as they sent Kearsley reeling to a third successive defeat.

Tonge's success was due to an outstanding performance from 17 years old Matthew Bode and an astute piece of captaincy from Simon Anderton.

Eagley looked to be comfortable as they reached 50-0 yet once Anderton had rung the bowling changes for Tonge and brought on Bode, the Aussie bowled six maidens, and picked up three wickets to spark a major collapse.

Eagley sunk to 63-8 and only a partnership worth 40 between Chris Lord, who was unbeaten on 38, and Steve Shepley gave them a final total of 119.

That posed no problems for Tonge and Bode led the way again with an unbeaten 77 in a final total of 123-0.

Three wickets each for the Smith brothers saw Kearsley make a disappointing 147-7 at Walkden yet they must have felt that they could turn things around as they reduced the home side to 28-4.

That thought, however, was quickly dispelled by Chris Neal, whose unbeaten 45 saw Walkden recover to 148-6 and a well earned four wicket win.

Greenmount's Mark Stewart produced an outstanding bowling performance against Little Lever, but suffered a groin strain which cost him his place in the League side yesterday.

He captured six wickets for 61 to dismiss Lever for 114 which fell a long way short of Greenmount's 199-8. Richard Chee Quee top scored with 92 before losing his wicket to through an unfortunate run out. Farnworth and Astley Bridge were involved in a high scoring game that looked set for a thrilling finish until the rain intervened.

Tim Hooper's unbeaten 139 was the mainstay of Farnworth's 228-4 but Astley Bridge responded positively and even though they lost six overs to the weather they finished on 210-9 after Phil Warren had hit 55 and Rick Northrop 40.

The weather washed out any hope of a result at Bradshaw and Horwich.

At The Rigbys, Bradshaw totalled 171-9, pro Sajid Shah and Mark Gwilt sharing a 72 run fifth wicket partnership, with Rod Estwick taking 5-51, while Westhoughton looked to be building up a solid reply at 44-1 when the rain came dwn.

Egerton were probably the more disappointed of the two teams at Horwich after they had restricted the home side to 134. They were 56-2 when the game was abandoned, Wayne Harper hitting 32 although Darren Preston was looking dangerous taking 2-5 off seven overs.

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