PRIDE of place this week in the Bolton League 2nd XI Premiership goes to Blackrod who finally managed to secure their first win of the season.

In their 16th league game of the season they produced an 18-run victory over Astley Bridge at Sharples Park.

Batting first, they put together a total of 167-6 thanks in the main to an unbeaten 70 from Daniel Robinson with useful support from Richard Ashworth who chipped in with 27 as Luke Wainman took 3-47 for Bridge.

Ashworth was again to the fore with the ball, taking 4-28 as he and Stephen Glover (3-45) helped dismiss Bridge for 149 – Ady Cooper top scoring with 36.

At the other end of the table, Westhoughton maintained their slender lead at the top with a six-wicket win at Horwich RMI.

The home side batted first and were restricted to 118 despite Martin Spencer making 42 at the top of the order and Mark Knowles chipping in with 29 as the bowlers shared out the wickets.

Sean Dunning (41), Kai Hodgkiss (32) and Ben Harrison (25) then saw the leaders home with 18 overs to spare.

Farnworth Social Circle kept up the pressure as they swept Heaton aside by 97 runs at Piggott Street.

Michael Knight, with 72, set the tone for their total of 223-5 with good support from Andrew Brooks (49 not out), 25 each from Simon Harrison and Christian Walsh, and 22 from Jamie Bohannon.

Nigel Duxbury’s 25 was the highest of four double-figure scores in reply as Heaton lost wickets at regular intervals as they were bowled out for 126 with Jess Bradley’s 3-5 the pick of the bowling figures.

The top score of the day was Farnworth’s 295-8 which was enough to secure a 155-run victory over Kearsley at Springfield Road.

The total was very much a team effort as Matthew Hicks, Max Perry and Victor Walcott all scored 40 and Peter Eccles added 38. Neil Thompson took 3-44 for the home side.

Shay Gunawenadia scored 22 for Kearsley who found themselves 55-6 before Stephen Pellowe (30) and Joe Capstick (35) helped take the score up to a more respectable 140.

Peter Eccles was the pick of the nine bowlers used by Farnworth, taking 3-19.

Darcy Lever continue to set a hot pace at the top of the Association division and showed no mercy to Walkden as they swept to a 219-run win at The Oval.

Toseef Hanif led the way with 96 for the first wicket with Wayne Hopkinson – who made 44 – as he went on to make an impressive 133 out of a total of 259.

Not content with that he then went on to star with the ball as his spell of 7-14 off six overs including one maiden was instrumental in bowling Walkden out for just 40 in reply.

Little Hulton stay second after defeating Atherton by 102 runs at the Old Vicarage.

Chasing a target of 264 Robert Harper hit a super run-a-ball 95, but apart from him and Leighton Smith – who made 27 – the rest of the batting had no answer to a brilliant spell of 8-29 from Stephen Thomasson.

Connor Gilluley had earlier bowled well to take 5-34 but Brian Kelly made 82, Denis Lindsay 58 and James Platt 27 to help them to a total of 263.

Eagley’s hopes of sneaking top spot were kept alive as they beat Lostock by 71 runs.

The visitors were always struggling with the bat as they chased 157. Daniel Cain proved especially difficult as he took 5-14 with Alex Senior providing the only real resistance on 36.

Daniel Burke (36) and Will Owen (23) had led the way for Eagley as they amassed 156-9 despite Will Berry, Tom Mills and Paul Busby each taking three wickets.

Golborne came out on top in an entertaining game at Victory Road which saw both sides enjoy spells of control before the visitors came out on top by 35 runs. Chasing 232, Little Lever lost two quick wickets before Mark O’Shaughnessy (66) and Ian Lansdale, who went on to make an unbeaten 80, added 131 for the third wicket.

From there the innings took another twist as Lever contrived to lose their last seven wickets for 40 and finish on 196 all out. Ian Anders (5-23) and Lewis Clarke (4-39) starred with the ball for Golborne.

Earlier the visitors had built up a total of 231-7 thanks mainly to the efforts of David Szostok who made 66, Jordan Hampson 46, David Houghton 24 and Ben Lyon 23.