Chris Walsh hit an unbeaten 82 and took four wickets to help Farnworth Social Circle earn the bragging rights with victory at neighbours Farnworth in the latest round of matches in the North West Cricket League Conference Premiership, at Bridgeman Park.

After winning the toss, hosts Farnworth elected to bat first where their top five batters only contributed 21 runs to the total. However, a captain’s innings from Sam Bradley (45) helped the hosts to recover from 25-5 to 155-9, despite Walsh taking 4-22.

A similar fate with Farnworth SC’s batters occurred as they were 22-5 after 10 overs. However, a 60-run partnership between Steven French and Walsh helped the visitors to a two-wicket win as Walsh ended with 82 not out.

After capitalising on Social Circle’s loss last week to become league leaders, Read succumbed to defeat as they visited Ribblesdale Wanderers. This saw Farnworth SC gain top-spot status again after just one loss in five games. Read displayed another strong performance as they dismissed Ribblesdale for just 90 as Jamie Woodall bagged 4-24, taking the wicket of Ribblesdale top-scorer, Stewart Trotter (37). But Read produced another substandard batting performance as they were bowled out for a dismal 47 as Waqas Khan took 6-14.

A close encounter between Cherry Tree and Little Lever saw the latter take 12 points back to Victory Road. Batting first, Cherry Tree were dismissed for 126 with Harrison Elmy top-scoring, with 33. In reply, Little Lever knocked the total down with just two wickets remaining as Naeem Patel top-scored with 24.

The Bull Holme Oval saw a 41-run victory for hosts, Barrowford firsts, as Foulridge firsts visited them. After winning the toss, Barrowford opted to bat first which saw them dismissed for 144 as Ather Waheed scored 31. In reply, Foulridge were bowled out for 103 with Imran Qamar top-scoring, with 31, as Jahangir Babar took 4-14.

The final game of the division saw Astley Bridge winning their first game of the season as they visited Burnley Belvedere seconds. Batting first, Burnley scored 120-7, with Ali Zar top-scoring, with 40. In reply, Astley Bridge scored 121-3, with James Cooper scoring an unbeaten 62.

Walkden are in top spot with five victories out of five and 60 points. On Saturday they scored 233-6, with Jamroze Khan (76) and Salman Younis (63) in the runs before Padiham were dismissed for 116 having been 88-4, Imran Ali taking 4-19.

Second are Oswald Immanuel on 55 points. After dismissing Barnoldswick for 40 - Dean Martin (5-24) and Zameer Hussain (5-16) - they went on to win by eight wickets.

Nick Ford took three wickets for two runs as Blackrod were dismissed for 101, then an unbeaten half-century from Jake Raby rescued Lostock from 48-4 to steer them to a six-wicket victory.

Feniscowles reached 162 with George Leather 4-28 for Tonge, who were then bowled out for 97 as Mozzam Ali took 3-26.

Chasing Atherton’s 135, Burnley Beldevere reached 50-1, but following a middle-order collapse, Nadeel Ur Rahman and Umair Saadat put on 49 for the last wicket - but ended agonisingly one run short, Wayne Cook taking 4-18.

Whalley recovered from 17-5 to make 111 (Matthew Austin 4-27, Henry Hindle 5-17), Baxenden overtaking this for the loss of six wickets.

Sajan Muthanna hit a half-century in Brinscall’s 146, Josh Bond taking 5-21 as the last five wickets fell for the addition of just four runs. Earby knocked these off for the loss of six wickets despite having been 98-6, Kasun Udagedara 4-50.

Mark Nerenberg, with 36, was the only player to reach double figures in Chatburn’s 100 all out, Oliver Tuck 5-41 for Eagley, however this total proved nine runs too many for Eagley, with 30no from Jacob Lerigo rescuing them from 48-8. Jamie Birtwell-Jones took 6-28 for Chatburn.

Chasing Foulridge’s 153, Barrowford won by eight wickets with a partnership of 99 from Ulfat Ali (89) and Ansar Mahmood (49).

In the Ramsbottom Cup, Barrowford ended three runs short chasing Cherry Tree’s 139, and Oswaldtwistle Immanuel scored 62 chasing Burnley Belvedere first team’s 96, Jabbar Ahmed with 4-14 for Immanuel and Muhammad Yahar 4-5 for Burnley Belvedere.

In the Lawrenson Cup, Foulridge overtook Walkden’s 134 for the loss of four wickets, Imran Qamar with a quickfire 78 off 43 deliveries.