FOLLOWING a fluctuating afternoon when the attention was more on what others were - or more accurately were not - doing, Haslingden were finally crowned Musbury Fabrics Lancashire League champions for the first time in seven years at a soggy Bentgate last night.

Three points from their abandoned match against Accrington were enough to give Haslingden their 12th league title, but not before one or two anxious moments along the way.

Church looked for a while as though they might beat the weather and pinch top spot by overcoming Rawtenstall in a run-chase at Blackburn Road after restricting the visitors to 137-8 in a 35-over contest, with Nick Westwell ending an outstanding season with another five-wicket haul.

And Ramsbottom, needing maximum points, also put themselves in with a chance of forcing a possible play-off for the title with overnight leaders Haslingden after posting an imposing 175-8 at Lowerhouse.

But therain ultimately had the final say with the games at Church and Lowerhouse finally suffering the same fate as that at Haslingden - where the hosts had made 144-9 from their scheduled 26 overs - to maintain the status quo and allow Paul Blackedge's men to celebrate.

"It wasn't a nice way to win it," admitted the Haslingden skipper after a constant round of phone calls and weather checks ended with confirmation of Church's abandonment at shortly after five-past-seven.

"You want to play every game. But we won it over the course of the season and that can't be taken away from us.

"Commiserations to Church. They pushed us all the way and with a young side they will come again.

"But we won more games than anyone else (except Church) and it's fantastic for the club. It's the first time we have won it since 1997 and it's great to fetch it back."

Haslingden's achievement in holding off the chasing pack in a season which has seen six different clubs top the table at various stages is even more laudable given that they have been without a regular professional since Andrew McDonald flew home to Australia with a back injury after just two appearances.

Since then they have used 14 substitute professionals in repeating the triumph they last enjoyed when also having to call in replacements for the injured Brad McNamara.

New Zealander Chris Harris scored the club's only century of the summer in his recent blitz of Todmorden, but in total the professionals used contributed only 656 runs and 71 wickets to Haslingden's success.

"It's amazing when you think what we've been through this year, and it's a testimony to the team spirit we have here. Everyone has contributed and it's been a real team effort," added Blackledge.

Consistency has been the key to Haslingden's triumph with all-rounder Steve Dearden the outstanding individual performer, alongside solid contributions from batsmen Mike Ingham, Barry Knowles and Blackledge, and bowlers Mike Blomley and Stuart Catterall.

Dearden became the first amateur at the club to complete the double of 500 runs and 50 wickets since 1953 as he finished with totals of 628 and 55.

He also top-scored yesterday with 32 as Haslingden came out after a lengthy rain break to blast 94 from their final 11 overs, despite a career-best 5-57 from Accrington's Graeme Seddon.

That may well have left Accrington with too much to do. But with events taking out of their hands, Haslingden did not have to put their championship credentials on the line again.