AFTER being unable to complete the 1984 Final ofthe L.C.A. Under-18 inter-league competition, it was doubly pleasing that the Bolton League side should triumph in 1985 with a convincing nine-wicket victory at Old Trafford.

 The Under-15 team, however, fared less well. They had won the competition in 1983 and again in 1984, but were, this time, knocked out in the first round at Greenmount.

 The Under-14 and Under-17 teams won their matches against the Salford Youth League and Palace Shield respectively, but due to our increasing commitments at both junior and senior level in the Bolton League, the only inter-league games that will be played during 1986will be the L.C.A. Knock-out matches.

 Third Team Cricket

 As predicted here in last year's Handbook, Horwich were the 1985 Third Team champions, with Bradshaw runners-up. Second in the two previous seasons, Horwich had retained the same squad of players, with five; David White, Mark Knowles, Martin Spencer, Peter Litherland and Steven Charnley having varying degrees of first team experience. Cup success, however, eluded Horwich, who lost to Walkden in the Jake Tatlock semi final. Bradshaw's team also contained four first team players, David Parkinson, Neil Johnson, David Senior and Jonathan Legg. As only Charnley out of the nine players named is eligible for 1986, it is difficult to envisage these two teams having the same sort of success this coming season. The chances are that one of the three teams to finish close behind the champions and runners-up of 1985willtake the honours in 1986.

 Tonge, last season's Jake Tatlock Trophy winners, retain most of their team including first team players Warren Hegg and Steven Vose, although one player with three years senior experience, David Roscow will be missed. Walkden, defeated finalists in 1985, will have a squad based around their 1984 Under- 15 double-winning team, which included two of the League's most exciting prospects, Paul Berry and David Smith.

 In the last match of the season, Heaton, playing against Horwich, could well have pipped their opponents to the championship post. However, after restricting Horwich to just over 130 on the Monday evening, they were unable to get close to the target. In the Tatlock Trophy, Heaton almost made the Final, but were thwarted by Tonge's last pair, who scored the winning runs in the semi-final. Heaton, like Walkden, still have a young squad, out of which both Ronnie Irani and Eric Shaw have already played first team cricket. Several other Under- 18 players were successful at senior level, none more so than Westhoughton's all-rounder Iain Hill, who played for the Inter-League side. His team-mate, Stuart Harrison, also made his mark by smashing 192in a third team game against Farnworth. Karl Krikken won the first-team League Wicket-keeping Prize despite being hampered by a leginjury, and was voted Junior Cricketer of the Year, whilst Neil Earing continued to progress at Greenmount.

 Under-15 Cricket

 WALKDEN became the first team to complete the League and Cup double in successive seasons, defeating Heaton in the Mervyn Porter Trophy Final, as they did in 1984, and losing only one League match. David Smith once again enjoyed an outstanding season, and was wellsupported by Mark Darbyshire and David Seddon, Man-of-the-Match in the Mervyn Porter Final. Greenmount closely pursued Waikdenin the League for most of the season, with Andy Williams their outstanding batsman. However, by the end of August they had been overtaken by both Astley Bridge and Little Lever, the former club finishing in eventual second place after a play-off. Mark Gwilt and Ian Warren of the Bridge, and Ian Settle of Little Lever each had a good season with the bat, and Lance Hill, Settle's team-mate, bowled very well. Kearsley's Warwick May again played for four of his club's teams, whilst Ronnie Irani at Heaton went one better, playing in each of his club's five sides, from Under-13 upwards! Other players to have useful seasons included Farnworth's Nick Sutton, Tim Lee at Horwich, Mike Ward and David Morris at the Rigbys, and Westhoughton's Mike Crompton.

 Under-13 Cricket

 MOST of the second half of the 1985 season was ruined by the weather. Matches were either abandoned without a ball bowled, or were completed (sometimes started) in pouring rain. Kearsley were worthy League and Cup double winners, and finished their season undefeated. The Harrison Cup Final, watched by a crowd which would not have disgraced a first team match, was not decided until the final over when Westhoughton's skipper, Andrew Forshaw, despite a valiant effort, was just unable to hit the winning runs. Leading players in Kearsley's fine side were skipper Stephen Davies, David Monks, who got into the League U-14 team, and Darryl Green.

 Bradshaw finished one point behind the champions, with Eagley and Westhoughton always in close pursuit. It is difficult in the context of Under-13 cricket to record individual figures, as a maximum of four overs is all that is allowed for each pair of batsmen, with no bowler being able to bowl more than three overs. However, one batting performance of 1985 was very worthy of note. During one match Egerton's Steven Dickinson slammed no fewer than 72 runs during his pair's four overs!