THE Bolton League's indoor cricket competition for the Anthony Axford Trophy is revealing more about the final destination of players rather than insights into team form.

Kearsley, for example, fielded three new players against a Tonge side that paraded one of the Association's top batsmen.

Paul Berry, often thought of as one of the top players to come out of Bolton cricket in recent years, returns from a spell with Northern League side Leyland to help Kearsley's cause, while Horwich all-rounder David White and former Westhoughton and Heaton wicketkeeper Steve Lucas were also in the line-up. They came up against a Tonge side bolstered by the inclusion of Gary Garner, who has made the move from Association side Clifton, but it was Paul Berry, who took the eye.

He hit an unbeaten 60 as Kearsley piled up 138-5, a total Tonge failed to match even though Garner's unbeaten 45 almost made up for a sluggish start. In the other two games, Farnworth Social Circle completely dominated their game over neighbours Farnworth. Wayne Green top scored with an unbeaten 39 as Circle reached 140-4 while Dean Eckersley's bowling return of 2-6 led to Farnworth crumbling to 58 all out.

Heaton were nine-run winners over Westhoughton although the game was never as close as the final score suggested. Chasing Heaton's 136-5 in which Mike Bennison, back from Farnworth, top scored with 51 not out, Westhoughton hit out in the last two overs although the target appeared to be beyond them at that stage. In Sunday's revised quarter-final draw, Circle take on Egerton at 11.15am Kearsley meet Heaton at 12.30pm Little Lever and Bradshaw play at 1.45pm and Walkden and Astley Bridge meet at 3pm. The competition takes place at Bolton School.

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