REIGNING champions Rupert enjoyed an innings victory in their match against Section A newcomers Farnworth United Ladies.

Mel Howarth with 22 led the scoring, with Gail Nicholson (18) and Deb Booth (13) also contributing to their score.

The Farnworth team had only two players manage double figures in their two innings, Sonia Brown hitting 14 in the first innings and Judi Worthington scoring 12 in the second, and fell well short of Rupert’s score.

In Section B, Future XI maintained their unbeaten run against WMB Ladies A.

Great first-half scores from Future’s Emma Truffas (34) and Abbie Smith (24) saw the home side score 144.

WMB also had some high scorers with Sharon Abernethy making 20 and Nina Benetti 17 but they could only manage 77.

Sent in to bat again, WMB added 73 points, leaving Future needing to get just six for victory, a target they reached with ease to further cement their place at the top of the table.

In Section M, Darcy Lever Cricket Club D beat visitors JHB Warriors, and had some great first-innings scores, led by 54 from Tracy Johnson, well supported by Lucy Pickles (36), Emily Worsley (20), Isobel Knowles (16), Gill Clarke (14) and Kate Winstanley (14).

JHB’s reply saw Jamie Holmes-Brown score 38, Megan Heeks 30, Violet Collins 26, Georgia Mayoh 14 and Lola Aston 11.

However, at half time the score was 183-143, meaning JHB – 40 behind – had just failed to avoid being put in again.

They were only able to add a further 72 points and Darcy declared their second innings on 72 to take the points.

Both teams fielded many players of primary school age, which suggests the future of Bolton rounders is in safe hands.

Friday evening saw the first of this season’s Interleague games between players from the Bolton and Bury Leagues.

Great scores from a quintet of Bolton players accounted for all but 30 of Bolton’s first-half total of 148, which included eight rounders. They were Kirsten Jackson (37), Ann Truffas (28), Elaine Lord (27), Paula Coleman (20 and Lorraine Monks (16).

Bury also had five players to thank for 96 of their 113 first-innings points, which included four rounders, the efforts of Wendy Irving (30), Carol Beswick (22), Kath Bond (20), Kath Bentley (13) and Deb Pierce (11) keeping the visitors within reach of Bolton.

Going into the second half, Bolton only managed a further 52 points for a match total of 198, which left Bury needing 86 points for victory.

With Pierce managing five rounders on her way to 49 second-innings points, substitute Elaine Surplus hitting 27 points including two rounders and Wendy Irving’s three rounders helping her to an innings total of 21, Bury scored a magnificent 171 points to take the game 198-284.

Next weekend will see the under-18 juniors meeting at Bolton Cricket Club in Green Lane.