ROUNDERS: Title-chasing Fishpool strengthen grip at top

4:44pm Wednesday 16th July 2008

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WITH just five games left of the Bury and District Rounders League season, some issues are beginning to resolve themselves but others are still a long way from being sorted.

Fishpool A tightened their grip over closest rivals Elton Vale B at the top of the first division after cruising to an innings victory over Vale’s A team. At the foot of the division, Swan Ladies A and Redvales are the two in trouble. All is not lost though, with both still close enough to drag Brown Cow and Unsworth into a fight if they can find a winning run.

In the second division, third-placed St Mary’s C won a nail-biting ‘four-pointer’ from second-placed Bury Felt A 136-138. This not only kept alive their own chances of promotion, but aided leaders Roach Ladies, whose own win now sees them with a four-point advantage at the top. Bottom club Warth look doomed, but anyone from Cricketers, Kings X1 and Brocks X1 B could still join them.

In Division Three, with a 10-point advantage over third-placed Limefield, All Rounders A need just one more point to ensure that they will be playing second division rounders next year.

With a 221-147 win over their own B team, Tottington A are strong favourites to also make the step up. That defeat for Totty B leaves them in big trouble, with no fewer than five other teams facing relegation.

There is a three-way fight at the top of Division Four, with unbeaten Elton CC favourites to make an immediate return to the third, with Elton Youth A and Anglo Ladies still within striking distance. Bury Felt B, Elton Vale D and Peelers are battling to avoid the drop.

Radcliffe Boro JFC still have a healthy lead at the top of the fifth but, at the other end of this division, it is beginning to look as if, barring a miracle, All Saints A and Walshaw SC will be the two to go down.

The unbeaten Sunset Ladies are strong favourites to claim the Division Six title, but their is a much cloudier picture behind them with Boots, Exodus and Michael Wood Homes all close enough to smell the second promotion spot. At the bottom, Phoenix Ladies and Walmersley Ladies need to start winning if they want to avoid relegation.

At the top end of Division Seven, four teams are battling for the two available promotion spots.

Bolton, meanwhile, took an unbeatable 4-2 lead in the inter-league eight-game series on Friday at Elton Vale when their under-18s proved to be far too strong for a young Bury side.

The Pattiman Plate quarter-finals took place on Sunday and there were a number of shocks as both of the favourites fell at this hurdle.

Unsworth CC went down by a four-point margin against Bury West 103-107, falling victim to the 20 point per division handicap rule. The West face fellow second division opponents Brocks XI A in the semis.

Ramsbottom Ladies had to give a 100-point start to Division Six side Georgies Angels, and the Angels proved that they had it in them to defend that lead to run out 225-203 winners.

The fourth semi-finalist will be Kings XI after their 175-217 win in the clash with third division Limefield.

These results will ensure that for the second year running this competition will be won by a team from outside the top flight.

Results, fixtures and tables in Thursday's The Bolton News