Saturday’s rain dashed any lingering hopes Walsden had of catching Norden in the Central Lancashire League’s first and second teams’ title races.
No play was possible in either match and Norden finished the weekend as double champions with two games to spare.
Walsden will be runners-up in both competitions and while that is ultimately disappointing, club spokesman Kenny Gale said it had been a “good effort from the local lads.”
The firsts, champions for the previous two years, had accepted their fate when Saturday’s washout left them 14 points behind Norden with 15 to play for.
They duly lost by seven wickets to Littleborough on Sunday with ex-England man Chris Schofield taking five for 34 and hitting 63 not out.
Walsden seconds beat Littleborough in spectacular fashion thanks to Andy Butcher, who took four for 29 with his off spin and then hit an unbeaten 94 after Walsden had been 31 for six chasing 188.
Walsden completed their programme against Heywood and Clifton this weekend. The seconds are at home on Saturday and the firsts on Sunday.
Gale added: “We want to go out on a high.”
CENTRAL LANCASHIRE LEAGUE
Littleborough v Walsden
Littleborough won by 7 wkts
WALSDEN 122
J Hooson c Roache b Burns 2
J Rawlinson lbw b Schofield 28
R Pathan lbw b Burns 4
U Karunaratne c Pye b Burns 4
S Barker c Perren b Schofield 31
Joe Gale c Roach b Wilman 5
K Halstead c Perren b Schofield 18
Josh Gale c Roach b Schofield 6
J Hanson b Schofield 10
R Sladdin lbw b Burns 0
J Shackleton not out 0
Extras 12
Bowling: M Bux 11 3 17 0, M Burns 14 2 35 4, C Schofield 11.3 2 34 5, L Wilman 4 0 14 1, M Hodson 4 0 17 0.
LITTLEBOROUGH 123 for three
C Schofield not out 63
C Perren b Sladdin 36
T Pye lbw b Sladdin 1
C Rushton c Joe Gale b Sladdin 3
M Burns not out 5
Extras 15
Bowling: J Shackleton 4 0 19 0, U Karunaratne 12 2 32 0, J Hooson 6 0 25 0, R Sladdin 7.4 2 30 3, Josh Gale 5 0 16 0.
Walsden II v Littleborough II
Walsden won by 2 wkts
LITTLEBOROUGH 188
M Bood b Butcher 24
C Dearden c C Hanson b Butcher 20
S Barnes c J Hanson b Dewhirst 3
P Sutcliffe c D Howley b Butcher 14
G Nash lbw b S Hanson 22
S Reeza c & b Butcher 1
R Miskella run out 1
R Roche c C Hanson b Lord 15
D Tweddle st D Howley b Lord 24
A taylor not out 33
B Miskella not out 6
Extras 25
Bowling: C Hanson 1 0 8 0, M Halstead 2 0 9 0, C Dewhirst 9 2 23 1, A Butcher 13 5 29 4, S Hanson 15 1 61 1, J Lord 8 1 49 2.
WALSDEN 192 for eight
C Dewhirst c Tweddle b B Miskella 4
J Lord lbw b R Miskella 6
C Hanson b B Miskella 13
D Howley c Dearden b B Miskella 7
D Bailey lbw b B Miskalla 0
R Howley b R Miskella 1
P Marrow c Tweddle b Dearden 32
A Butcher not out 94
S Hanson c Tweddle b Barnes 22
J Hanson not out 10
Extras 3
Bowling: R Miskella 12 2 46 2, B Miskella 15 2 47 4, J Barnes 7.1 0 43 1, C Dearden 8 1 31 1, S Reeza 5 0 21 0.