LITTLE Hulton took advantage of the bad weather to continue their recent rise in the Bolton Association.

Before their last match they were way down in eighth but a win and a good draw has moved them into second, showing how tight it is at the top.

In fact the top seven teams are separated by just six points suggesting the Association could be heading for its most thrilling title race in years.

Just three pitches managed to drain the previous day's downpour sufficiently to stage games.

Little Hulton would have leapfrogged the lot to go top if they could have taken the last two Daisy Hill wickets but the bottom club held out for a draw.

Paul Craig smashed 79 and pro Ijaz Mahmood 54 as Little Hulton set a target of 173-6, Steve Hodgkinson taking 3-38.

Little Hulton looked well set for a third successive impressive victory following the midweek Lancashire Knockout triumph over Bolton Leagueside Tonge and Andy Sutherland did his best to provide it with a five-wicket haul but Daisy held out to finish on 103-8 with Howard Brooks defiant with 46.

It meant Little Hulton had to be content with third at close of play but there are new leaders in Clifton despite them not playing.

They have 117 points, one ahead of Walshaw, two ahead of Little Hulton, three in front of also inactive Atherton and four ahead of Spring View and Standish while two points further behind come Golborne on 111 points. Then there is a 10 point gap to Astley and Tyldesley.

Darcy Lever were another team focused on a draw as they responded to Astley and Tyldesley's 166, Pankaj Tripathi 38 and pro Bazid Khan 32, Dominic Gavin 3-33.

Darcy gave little away in the reduced 30-over game to finish on 83-4 with John Norris unbeaten on 24 while Khan completed a decent day for him with all four wickets.