Farnworth captain Ross Sutton believes the quality and competitiveness of the cricket in the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League has increased this season.

Sutton is enjoying the challenge posed in the second year of the new structure, which is seeing a highly competitive title race in the Premiership and a hard-fought battle for promotion from the Championship.

Farnworth currently sit fifth in the Premiership - and, while Sutton knows winning the title will almost certainly be a step too far for his side this year, he is happy with their progression and has designs on a top-four finish.

Saturday saw them play the role of spoilers as they beat champions Little Lever by 59 runs at home, handing the title initiative to Blackrod after 12 of 22 games.

“Last season, everyone was finding their feet with new teams. We weren’t sure what we were coming up against, but we are now,” said all-rounder Sutton.

“I feel like every team can beat each other.

“The pros are a lot better, and the overseas are adding a lot to things as well. Every game feels really competitive, and you can’t ask for more than that.”

Only 22 points separate the top four teams in the Premiership. Leaders Blackrod have 122 points after 12 games, second-placed Padiham 110 after 12. Just below them sit Little Lever and Salesbury on 100 after 11 games.

In fifth place, Farnworth have 89 from 12. Saturday’s success was their seventh win of a season which started for them with four losses in their opening five fixtures through to mid-June.

“We had a slow start, but since then we’ve really kicked on,” said Sutton.

“If we can get top four and secure a Lancs Knockout place, it’ll feel like we’ve had a really good season. The team’s coming together, and we’re enjoying it.

“Everyone seems to be chipping in at the right times, which is good.”

It should, therefore, be of no surprise to hear the skipper describe Saturday’s win over the reigning champions as “a really good team performance”.

Farnworth impressively defended their middling total of 156 all out.

Opener Tayler-Jay Heyes top-scored for Farnworth with 35. Australian professional Conor Spinks added a tail-end 17 not out before striking twice with the new ball as Little Lever were bowled out for 97.

But the star of the show was Sutton, who returned four wickets with his off-spinners.

Sutton continued: “We could have done with more runs, but we said at half-time in the dressing room, ‘We’ve got something to bowl at’. We just had to get stuck in, and we did.

“Against a team as good as Little Lever, you’d always like a score of 200 plus. But 150 is a pressure score. It’s expected to be chased, so there’s that added pressure, but it’s not an easy one.

“Conor Spinks (Australian professional) getting a wicket in his first over, especially with it being their pro (Sam Fanning), was great. That got us off on the right foot.

“They bat really deep, so it was only when they had two or three wickets left that I thought, ‘It’s ours to lose’.”

Sutton was delighted with his own performance. He said: “It’s been a while since I got a wicket, to be fair. So it was good to get involved again and help the lads out!”

But he preferred to praise others.

“Tayler, it was good to see him score runs again and get some confidence back up,” he said.

“Simon Booth behind the stumps, he’s finding new ways of getting people out and making them lose concentration. He’s also batting really well, and we couldn’t have asked for more from him.

“Matthew Hicks on Saturday, he showed that real positive energy that we needed. He was brilliant in the field for us.”

And on bowling pro Conor Spinks and all-round overseas amateur Liam Smith - both Australians, Sutton added: “They’ve been great. They’re fantastic lads, they’re really enjoying it, and they’ve both done really well for us.”

Farnworth’s bid for a top-four finish means a crucial fixture comes this weekend given they travel to fourth-placed Salesbury this afternoon.

Weekend fixtures: Today - Premiership: Astley Bridge v Eagley, Blackrod v Padiham, Farnworth Social Circle v Ribblesdale Wanderers, Kearsley v Tonge, Little Lever v Lostock, Salesbury v Farnworth; Championship: Atherton v Baxenden, Barnoldswick v Read, Earby v Walkden, Feniscowles v Oswaldtwistle Immanuel, Whalley v Brinscall; Tomorrow - Birtwistle Cup T20 Finals Day (at Lostock CC): Semi-finals: Whalley v Blackrod (10.30am), Lostock v Ribblesdale Wanderers (1pm), final: 4.30pm.