BOLTON extended their lead over Bury to 4-2 with four matches of their inter-league head-to-head series to play as the over-45s team recorded a comprehensive 262-140 victory at Elton Vale Social Club.

It was the first match on Bury turf after Bolton’s representative sides just edged the five games at Darcy Lever.

A rainy Friday afternoon threatened to spoil the start of the second half of the programme, but the pitch at Elton Vale SC was in excellent condition as the over-45s teams took to the field.

Bolton made a great start by dismissing four Bury batters at first base, but Elaine Walker, Deb Barber and Sharon Warren scored threes and Lorraine Berry a rounder first time round.

Jane Woodcock was Bury’s top scorer with 18, hitting three threes and a rounder before being hit out.

Lorraine Berry was caught out for 13 and last batter Joanne Mason was denned for 10 as the home side finished on 71.

Although Bolton lost Val Faye at first base, Sue Taylor opened with the first of her two rounders and Chris Ayers, Maria Kirkman and Lee Rhodes all recorded three off their first bat, while Andrea Finney hit a rounder to declare the visitors’ intentions.

Andrea Finney’s opening rounder was followed up with another, but a Bury fielder caught her out next time round.

Ann Truffas followed up her excellent bowling with an equally impressive display of batting and finished with 23 runs, including two rounders.

Sue Taylor scored four singles between her rounders and ended on 16 and Chris Fletcher scored a rounder before being dismissed at first base for 13.

Last batter Lee Rhodes also hit double figures with 11 as the visitors finished with 129 and a lead of 58 runs.

Bury lost two batters in the first round of the second innings and three more in the second and the Bolton fielders continued to keep the scoring in check, allowing only three batters to reach double figures.

Lee Rector scored 13 before being out at first base, penultimate batter Kath Bentley was hit out for 15 while last batter and top scorer Jane Woodcock was denned for 18, which included the only rounder of the innings.

With Bury on 140, Bolton went in needing just 12 runs to win and scored 21 on the first round and added 27 on the second round.

At that stage, the visitors had scored four rounders and lost only two batters, but chose to continue batting, possibly to entertain the crowd, possibly to give their opponents the chance to show what they could do.

In the end, with Vickie Hill scoring 18, Val Faye 17, Sue Taylor 16 and Sarah Gradwell and Chris Ayres 15 each, Bolton finished on 133 to win the match by 122 runs.

The junior teams meet at Elton Vale SC on Friday when the Bury girls will be hoping to avenge the defeat they suffered in Bolton.