DERBY rivals Atherton and Golborne are keeping Edgworth close company at the top of the Vimto Bolton Association.

But, of the Big Three, only Atherton claimed winning points in rain- and tear-soaked Saturday.

Their match against Astley & Tyldesley was the only Association game to be completed - the 25-run victory moving them into third place 30 points behind leaders Edgworth and 13 adrift of second-placed Golborne.

As in all of the other matches, play got under way in dry conditions and Atherton took advantage of that by totalling 184-4.

Philip West top-scored with an unbeaten 86 - plundering 29 from only nine balls towards the end of the innings.

He was supported by Jonathan Harrop, who contributed a solid 48, while the top A & T bowler was pro Scott Henderson with 3-65.

Astley's innings was played in constant drizzle, but, although the umpires suggested halting play, the captains opted to carry on.

Rob Bennett proved the point that runs could be scored in the conditions with an innings of 68. But it was Atherton skipper Steve Walsh who gained most from the decision to continue.

He bowled 23 overs and finished with figures of 7-51 which left A & T dismissed for 159.

Of the other games, Clifton's encounter with Golborne made the most progress. Golborne reached 148, a reasonable total on a wicket that saw them collapse from 45-2 to 56-5.

Ian Seddon and Ian McMillan pulled that situation round with a 50 partnership before Mike Pennington and John Waterworth boosted the innings with a final partnership worth 40.

Against that, Clifton lost two wickets for 51 runs in the few overs they faced.

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