KARL Gorse brushed the cobwebs off the new cricket season with an opening day century for Astley and Tyldesley.

His knock of 102 was enough to steer his side to 192-5 and with new pro Scott Henderson producing the best bowling figures of the day, 7-35, opponents Standish were skittled for 95.

Henderson was one of four amateurs from the Bolton League making their debuts as Association professionals.

Two of them faced each other at Darcy Lever after leaving the same club, Little Lever. Jason Whittaker hit 63 in the home side's 167 while his former team-mate at Victory Road, Tony Settle lined up for British Aerospace.

He came off second best as Aero slumped dramatically to 18-6 but their recovery to force the draw at 129-7 must have seemed as good as a win.

Skipper Peter Litherland and young batsman Steve Croston engineered that with an unbeaten near century partnership, Litherland scoring 57 not out and his partner an unbeaten 28. Brett Collins, who has left Greenmount for Darcy, finished with figures of 4-30.

Nigel Partington, who played a major role in Tonge's Bolton League title success last season, hit 46 on his debut as Blackrod professional.

That helped Blackrod to 160-9, Robert Merga taking 5-50 while Atherton failed by nine runs to snatch victory, the game ending in a draw with the home side on 151-8, Andy Hall 56.

Daisy Hill were six-wicket winners over Adlington, both teams parading their new professionals. David Hamilton hit 52 not out in Daisy's 130-4 while Adlington's Matthew Taylor scored 36 in their 129-8.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.