DEFEATS for title contenders Little Hulton and Clifton allowed Golborne to race away at the top of the table writes David Magilton.

The champions of 1993 stretched their lead to 16 points after an exciting tussle at Edgworth and only a dramatic loss of form looks like denying them the title.

But Golborne found victory hard to come by against a determined Edgworth outfit which battled to the end. In a see-saw game the leaders reached 148 but only after Tony Kelly and Ian Seddon had rescued them with a solid fourth wicket partnership after they had been struggling on 13-3. Kelly hit 49 and Seddon 29 but it was 18 valuable runs from the last pair that proved decisive. Chris Locke had done the damage with the ball finishing with 5-56.

Edgworth started well and Locke and Denver Thornton opened with 40 for the first wicket. When Locke went for a quickfire 25 the rot set in and Edgworth crashed to 62-6 before Danny Beswick and Duncan Brookes steadied the ship. They added 64 for the seventh wicket but when Brookes went the remaining batsmen were quickly accounted for leaving Beswick unbeaten on 49. Ewan McCray grabbed 5-65. Shock of the day was at A and T where professional Charles Dagnall hit a century to steer the home side to victory over champions Little Hulton, while Clifton's title hopes were dashed when they lost at Spring View,

Brian Taylor top scored with 39 with extras next best at 32 as Clifton could only muster 132-9. Fox took 3-48 and Shields 4-32. In reply Spring View strolled home by eight wickets with Paul Matthews 53 and Nigel Geary unbeaten on 69.

It was a low scoring affair at Standish who scraped to 123-9 with Paul Hassan in form again with the bat on 51 while Graham Beswick took 5-31. British Aerospace's reply was hardly impressive and they finished on 108-5.

It was also a draw at Adlington who could only reach 140-8 chasing Darcy Lever's 175-7. Richard Sutcliffe led the way with 55 while Paul Killey took 6-58. Adlington's ninth wicket partnership between Chris Mulligan 32 not out and Alan Livingstone 29 not out proved unshakeable after they had been tottering on 82-8. Elton had the worst possible preparation to yesterday's Cross Cup final when they were skittled out for 106 with Terry Southworth the destroyer grabbing 8-35. Neil Lawless's unbeaten 55 saw Blackrod home by eight wickets.

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