SPRING View nipped in to win their first Bolton Association title after Walshaw lost the game and the championship at Atherton.

Two unexpected defeats in their last three games denied the Bury side a fourth successive title.

They were favourites to finish on top again as they went into their final game at Atherton 14 points clear of Spring View who had gone top the previous Saturday only to throw away the leadership 24 hours later.

View were expected to win at home to Darcy Lever and they duly obliged with an eight-wicket mauling. But that would have meant nothing unless Atherton could do them a favour on their own ground.

Atherton started solidly, posting a target of 154-8. Philip Wakefield top scored with 51 and 14-year-old Karl Brown followed up his unbeaten 62 of the previous week with 25 while David Marsh added 24.

Walshaw captain Robin Faulkner took 4-46 but when his side replied they could find no answer to Mihir Diwakar.

The Atherton pro ripped through the Walshaw batsmen with 7-53 as Walshaw could only muster 130 all out, Brett Collins top scoring with 39 on his last appearance for the club and Geoff Dyson hitting 26.

That meant celebration time for View who entered the league 10 years ago and now have a title to add to the Vimto Trophy they won in 1995.

Paul Matthews produced a captain's performance as he led his side past Darcy's 166-9 with an unbeaten 85, Nigel Geary chipping in with 38. Earlier John Green had taken four Darcy wickets for 38 runs while Andrew Stocks hit 39 and John Norris 38.

Little Hulton secured third place with a seven-wicket victory over Golborne who were all out for 94.

They could not handle Craig Cook and Andrew Sutherland who were on fire with 6-23 including a hat-trick and 4-24.

Pro Ijaz Mahmood made sure there would be no surprise comeback with an unbeaten 54.

Atherton's big win secured fourth place and just behind them come Astley and Tyldesley who season showed a marked improvement on the last when they finished rock bottom.

They won a low scoring game against Adlington who were all out for 80 with deputy pro Lee Childs taking 5-34, Simon Nicklin claiming 4-40 and Mick Flatters hitting 26.

A&T were surprisingly in a little trouble at 54-6 but Paul Bennett eased the nerves with an unbeaten 19, Matthew Taylor taking 24-41.

Sixth place went to Clifton who finished with a seven-wicket success over Standish. Chasing 188-5, Stephen Knowles 51, Danny Varney 3-59, Clifton's Geoff Griffiths was on top form with 77 not out and Ian Morris accompanied him at the end with an unbeaten 28.

Next come Elton who finished with a draw against Lostock. Elton pro Chris Hall needed 105 runs for 1,000 for the season but fell just short with 93 of his side's 183-8.