A TRUE captain's innings got Greenmount back to winning ways in the BOLTON LEAGUE when they entertained Farnworth Social Circle at Brandlesholme Road on Saturday.

After Mark Stewart had given Circle a torrid time reducing them to 160 all out with a superb 7 for 78 haul the villagers looked in real trouble when seven of their batsmen were back in the Log Cabin with the score on 105.

However skipper Gary Chadwick took the bull by the horns and, aided by Bobby Horrocks (12) and an unbeaten 18 from Andy Sidley, guided his side home to a three wicket triumph with a superb innings of 67 not out.

Radcliffe might not have had a lot to celebrate in the CENTRAL LANCASHIRE LEAGUE this season but they had plenty of reason to smile on Saturday.

They travelled to Ashton and picked up only their second outright win of the season thanks to sixteen-year-old Damien Keegan and Craig Roscoe who both hit half centuries at the Racecourse side ran up 213 for 8.

That total proved to be too much for the home side who were dismissed for 199 (S. Holt 5-72).

However, Radcliffe couldn't repeat that form against Heywood twenty-four hours later. A sterling innings of 70 from Paul Farrow was in vain as they slumped to a three wicket defeat.

Stand's up and down weekend started on a high note with a victory over Heywood at the Crimble.

Chris Warren took 6 for 29 as the home side were shot out for 116.

Professional Mike Warden (63) and Phil Ramsbottom (24) led the reply as they overhauled that total inside 25 overs.

There was more of a test for the Stand batsmen on Sunday when they entertained Unsworth in a derby match.

Again Warden top-scored, this time with 52, but the Hamilton Road club's total of 131 wasn't enough and the Parr Lane outfit cruised to victory for the loss of four wickets.

In the LANCASHIRE LEAGUE Ramsbottom entertained Enfield and went down to a two wicket defeat.

The Dill Hall Lane side's sub professional Maher hit 54 and four players chipped in with twenty-something to set the Rams a target of 189 to win.

The Rams reply looked to be well on course when opener Brian Taylor hit 60 and Nick Riley and Mark Dentith both chipped in with 31 and 37 respectively, but a tail end collapse saw the home side nine runs short when the final wicket fell.

RIBBLESDALE LEAGUE outfit Edenfield experienced a ridiculous to sublime weekend. On Saturday they were given an eight wicket trouncing at Blackburn Northern.

Only John Kershaw (33) and professional John Ashley (23) looked anything like as they set a target of 117, a total the Blackburn side comfortably knocked off for the loss of only two wickets.

However, it was a different story on Sunday when they entertained Earby.

Professional Jon Harvey hit 86 of the visitors' respectable total of 238 for 8 but it was a score that proved surmountable for the Gincroft Laners.

Edenfield got off to a great start with Nigel Franklin and John Kershaw putting on 84 for the first wicket.

Once Franklin departed Kershaw and Ashley took the score on to 179 before a mini-collapse ensued with two wickets falling for four runs.

Kershaw was joined by Andy Wright and together they knocked off the required runs with Kershaw finishing unbeaten on 80 and Wright 34 not out for a total of 241 for 4.

In the MANCHESTER ASSOCIATION Mike Brawn cracked a splendid 101 and professional Owen Steverson hit 73 as Bury set Lytham a target of 202 to win at the Sports Club.

But for all their exertions victory belonged to the visitors who had Dave Newton to thank, blasting 92 to secure his side a three-wicket win.

Brooksbottoms' total of 107 was insufficient when Wythenshawe visited Rowlands Road, the South Manchester outfit hit the winning runs for the loss of only three wickets.

Walshaw professional Charles Dagnall hit the best score of the day with a terrific unbeaten 114 as they put paid to Standish in the BOLTON ASSOCIATION.

The weekend ended on a low note for the Sycamore Road club when they were given a seven wicket trouncing by Edgworth in the Vimto Trophy, that, despite an unbeaten 50 from Jonathan Fielding.

There was better luck for Elton when they entertained Adlington. The Leigh Laners' set a total of 158 and looked to be in big trouble when the visitors stood on 133 for 3 but amazingly they collapsed to 149 all out.

A third wicket stand of 156 between professional Graham Knowles (86 not out) and Billy Griffiths (82) saw Prestwich to a LANCASHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE victory over Cheetham Hill while Chris Humphreys cracked an unbeaten 84 as Woodbank earned a winning draw at Dukinfield.

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