ATHERTON CC's in and out league season continued at the weekend when they played derby matches against Daisy Hill and Spring View.

Against Daisy Hill on Saturday they lost the toss and had to first use of a very damp strip.

Opening with David Charlson and Greg Greenough - Charlson was last week's number 11 - they quickly lost Greenough, followed by Andy Hall and Philip Wakefield but with the score on 37-3 in the 13th over Charlson was joined by Ian Nuttall and together to put on a partnership of 75 from 17 overs.

When they were both dismissed, each for 44, with the score on 116 it was left to Jonathan Fearick to haul the innings along to a final score of 178-9 off 48 overs, Fearick finishing on 32 not out.

For Daisy Hill, Mark Penny took 2-41 and when the home side batted he continued with the bat where he had left off with the ball.

Going in at the fall of the second wicket with the score on 14, he single-handedly steered his side to a five wicket victory with three overs to spare, reaching the victory target and his own century with a four. His 101 not out came off 121 balls with 14 balls and a six.

For Atherton, Fearick bowled unchanged for 22 overs and took all the Daisy Hill wickets to fall, finishing with 5-84.

Sunday saw Atherton batting first again, this time with 16-years-old Paul Walsh partnering regular opener Greg Greenough.

Greenough was soon back in the pavilion, bowled by Spring View's Paul Hart for nine. Walsh batted well until he mistimed a ball from Professional Rob Turnbull and was caught for 23 with the score on 49.

Atherton pro Andy Hall looked to be on course for a big innings when he became the second of Turnbull's victims, caught behind for 20.

It was then left to Philip West with a splendidly hard-worked 84 not out to lift the Higham Park side to 190-7 off 48 overs. He was helped along the way with contributions of 19 and 15 respectively from Fearick and Nuttall.

West struggled at the start of his innings and hist first 20 took 40 balls. But once into his stride runs began to flow and his 84 came off 102 balls with 12 fours and one six.

When Spring View batted only two players got into the 20s. The top scorer was Turnbull with 21 and the innings closed at 132 all out.

Three Atherton bowlers shared the wickets to fall, Greenough 4-44, Fearick with 3-36 and Paul Walsh with 3-29.