WESTHOUGHTON won their eighth second-team title in the last 10 years when they beat Farnworth Social Circle in a winner-takes-all last match of the season.
Westhoughton posted just 106 (Kai Hodgkiss 28, Joshua Roscoe 3-24) before no batsman for the home team scored more than seven while six were out for ducks as Oliver Dixon 5-16 and Simon Ashcroft 5-18 swept them aside for just 35 in reply.
Despite losing by six wickets at Astley Bridge, Bradshaw were able to hold off Heaton in the battle for third spot.
A 63 from Elliott Dargan together with 24 from Matthew Gregory and Jonathon Legg’s 20 helped Bradshaw muster a useful-looking 167-7 at Sharples Park.
Bridge were undaunted and, led by a splendid unbeaten 100 from Ady Cooper, and 30 from Alex Lowe, reached the target with four overs to spare despite Thomas de Gelder taking 3-47.
Heaton ended the season on a high with a six-wicket victory over Kearsley at Springfield Road as they chased down a target of 147 with 10 overs in hand.
Jack Kelly led the way with an unbeaten 51 with useful contributions from Ryan Garner (28) and Ran Tierney (21).
Kearsley’s total of 146-9 had been a team effort with Steven Pellowe (23) and Jordan Thornley (21) the highest of six double-figure scores as Garner completed a good personal effort with 3-32.
Horwich RMI ensured Daisy Hill’s relegation fate was sealed with an emphatic seven-wicket success at St James Street.
The home side went in first and apart from Kieran Farrell (23) had little answer to the bowling of Ramakrishnan Mangineni (3-19) and Kieran Barlow (3-24) as they collapsed to just 79 all out.
RMI wasted little time racing to their target led by Andy Hancock 22 not out and Daniel Hornby 20no to finish their season on a high.
Bottom club Blackrod were 95-5 chasing a target of 156 when the rain intervened at Vicarage Road and forced their game against Farnworth to be abandoned.
Charlie Fletcher’s unbeaten 31 kept the run chase alive as Farnworth used all 11 bowlers for at least one over.
Anthony Tipping had starred for Blackrod with 5-21 to help dismiss the visitors for 155 with Shujat Ali top scoring on 46 and Matthew Hicks adding 25.
Association division champions Darcy Lever ended their season in style as they thrashed third-placed Eagley by eight wickets at Dunscar.
The home side were skittled out for just 55 with Bilal Khan taking 3-28 and three wickets falling to run outs as only James Richards reached double figures.
Darcy then made very short work of their meagre target, racing home in just 14 overs.
Runners-up Little Hulton celebrated promotion by sweeping aside neighbours Walkden by 162 runs at The Oval.
Roger Kumah led the way with 71, and skipper Neil Jarvis (48) and youngster Basil Sultan (28) chipped in with handy knocks as Little Hulton posted the highest score of the day with 232-8.
Walkden’s reply crumbled against the bowling of Harrison Calvert (3-7) and Ian Lee (3-33) and they struggled to make just 70.
Lostock jumped into fourth place with a 97-run success against Adlington at Chew Moor.
They made a healthy 218-3 as Stephen Kaye (52) and Ryan Crombie (36) gave them a good start. Will Berry, with a rapid 51no, and Paul Busby (41) pushed the final score over the 200 mark.
Andrew Chamberlain led the reply with a patient 30, and Joe Leather (24) and Andrew Leyland (20) scored usefully but wickets fell at regular intervals to Paul Busby (3-10) and Darren Parr (3-53) as they were restricted to 121 in reply.
Atherton had a 50 run victory over Little Lever at Victory Road.
Batting first they were in some trouble on 28-5 before Leighton Smith (24), Ian Nuttall (39) and Matt Lilley (81) turned the innings round to help them recover to 188-9.
Don Heyes with 3-51 and Tamoor Jehangir (3-55) toiled hard with the ball for Lever. Little Lever’s reply followed a similar pattern as they found themselves 56-6 before a recovery of sorts led by Jon Pendlebury (24) and Jehangir (53) helped them to 138.
Lilley (4-12) and Connor Gilluley (4-19) starred with the ball for Atherton.
Bowlers were well on top at Castle Hill where Tonge and Golborne mustered just 110 between them before Tonge emerged 38-run winners.
Golborne must have been confident of success having dismissed the home side for just 74 but Stuart Partridge had other ideas taking 4-9 to help skittle them for just 36 in reply.
Six batsmen were dismissed for ducks and just Tom Peacock made double figures. Earlier, Lloyd Sayers made an invaluable 32 to help his side reach just 74 as Ben Lyon (5-16) and Jordan Close (3-3) starred with the ball.
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