THEY needed a play-off but in the end it was the same old story as Rupert Ladies pipped arch-rivals Darcy Lever C&SCA for the eighth successive year to become Section A champions.

The two teams, who have dominated the local rounders scene in recent years, locked horns in front of a 300-strong crowd at St James’s on an evening when three of the six section play-offs took place.

And although Darcy made a good fist of it, Rupert ran out winners by 149-104.

The first innings saw some outstanding fielding by both teams and after a short innings Darcy led by 19-17.

Although the spectators were treated to more excellent rounders, neither side could reproduce their first innings form. Perhaps nerves affected Darcy more than Rupert, who ran out comfortable winners.

Ann Truffas, with 33, and Kerry Anderton (23), were largely responsible for the second innings score, but Mandy Makin (19), Deb Booth (16) and Joanne Blackshaw (15) all recorded double figures for the champions.

Several other section winners and runners-up were in doubt until the final matches had been played, but it boiled down to six of the 16 Sections requiring further competition.

Play-offs were also needed in Sections K and O to decide the top two places while extra games were required to decide the runner-up in Sections D and I.

Section F was so tight that three teams tied for second place behind clear winners Little Lever Cricket Club B.

On Tuesday, Applejax had a comfortable innings win over Capital Catering Ladies. The following night, Levers XI beat Applejax by 10 runs, so all eyes were on Thursday’s match between Capital and Levers.

This turned out to be a typical “game of two halves” with Levers struggling in the first innings to trail by 152-80, but they raised their game in the second innings and scored 189 which left Capital needing 118 to win. However, as the light gave out, Capital still needed 40 and the game was abandoned to be re-arranged for a 6pm start on Monday. A Levers XI victory would confirm them as runners-up, but defeat would mean deadlock with a three-way tie remaining.

Thursday’s Section O championship match was another first class game which was much better than many people would have expected in a low section. After the first innings, Cyns Tavern led the young Rupert Ladies C by 48-46.

Rupert’s fielding errors in the second innings resulted in Kelly Wealleans top scoring with 38 and Tudor hitting 34.

With a mountain to climb, the Rupert youngsters showed no fear and made a valiant effort, only to fall 18 runs short of victory at 166-149.

Before the start of the Section D runner-up game between Chorley Ladies and Little Lever CC A, it was suggested the Chorley team was getting old. That may have been just what they needed to prove their doubters wrong as they won the first innings 137-88 and declared at 196-148 as the midges began to bite.

Edgworth Rounders Club proved too strong for Centredart Fireplaces in Section I, winning both innings to take the game by 233-191, but the Section K championship encounter between The Grapes B and Bolton Castle B was a completely different affair.

The Grapes took an apparently comfortable 91-56 first innings lead, but were dismissed for just 36 in their second innings while Bolton Castle powered to 88 and victory by 144-126.

The remaining competitive action is the Inter-District Tournament at Walkden Cricket Club on Sunday, followed by the Sunday Handicap finals at Darcy Lever CC on Sunday, September 19.