BURY'S season received a boost when they progressed to the quarter-finals of the HC Smith Cup the day after grabbing a draw at local rivals Bolton.

And, Bury had professional Nick Kennedy to thank for an all-round performance in both games that helped his side to both results.

On Saturday, Bolton were rolled over for just 165 after putting on 73 for the first wicket.

However, a monumental collapse saw the visitors lose four wickets for three runs and put Bury in charge.

Kennedy was key as his slow bowling opened the gates for Bury to flatten their opponents.

Kennedy finished with 6-41 in just 16 overs and gave his side the perfect platform for the victory when he blasted 40, opening the batting with MK Brawn (12).

However, when the paid man was dismissed, the Bury batting lacked leadership and struggled to keep up with the run rate to finish on 131-7 in their 45 overs; 35 runs short of the win.

Things improved on Sunday when Westleigh Meths visited Radcliffe Road.

Westleigh batted first and were comprehensively outplayed from the off as Belston (3-30), Raza (2-19) and Metcalfe (2-18) combined to dismiss their opponents for a paltry 117.

In reply, Bury lost three early wickets but cruised home thanks to Kennedy's classy, unbeaten 67.

Meanwhile, excellent batting from Mark Ashcroft saw the opener dig BROX out of a hole in their crucial game away to second-placed Newton Heath.

At 25-3, with three key batsmen back in the hut, defeat was on the cards.

However, Ashcroft, with useful help from Oliver Hawley and Josh Pellowe, rebuilt the innings with a critical 62.

Useful contributions down the order from Danny Kannenberg and David Brown saw Brox to a reasonable final score of 200-9.

40-year-old Anton Sharrocks rolled back the years and he struck three times at the top of the order to leave the home side reeling at 56-4.

In the face of disciplined bowling from the Brox attack, this was a position from which they could not recover as Brown and Hawley completed the rout.

On Sunday, they were faced with a crisis of a different nature in their HC. Smith Cup tie at Bolton.

This time there was no savour, however, as they buckled under a fierce onslaught from Australian Jason Swift.

Shorn of key bowlers, the run machine made Brox pay as he piled up a huge total of 141.

Bolton made 285 and put Brox very much on the back foot and the target was always going to be out of reach but the Brox batsmen did salvage some respectability with a determined response until rain had the final say with Brox on 172-5.