GREENHILL forgot their league form in the Thwaites East Lancs Premier League and gained a great first round Autumn Cup win against the villagers from Turton in their game at Two Gates, Darwen.

They showed that, while at the bottom of the league, they can still upset any team on their day.

In the other cup clash played at Sunnybank, Bar Lane, with a narrow three chalk advantage, moved into the second round at the expense of their championship rivals Darwen Subs.

Subs will be disappointed after years of being one of the league's cup specialists, while Bar Lane will now have a league and cup double in their sights.

With only six games left to play in the North West Fire Protection Merit League, Glynn Shuttleworth of Colne Cricket heads the merit by a large margin and looks set to carry off the trophy.

That other merit perennial John Bentley of Darwen Subs, leads the chasing pack with John Mort of Turton, who seems to have hit a rich vein of form recently, alongside him.

Merv Yarwood of Bar Lane is in fourth position and seems to be the only other contender with a large gap back to fifth-placed Graham Wood of the Globe.

With over 100 players representing the 10 teams, the fight for merit points will not be easily come by between now and the end of the season and Shuttleworth will be a hard man to catch.

LATEST qualifiers in the Alexandra Classic sponsored by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph and Scottish and Newcastle Retail were last year's runner-up Bob Hitchen from Yorkshire and local player Peter Renwick.

On Saturday Halifax bowler Hitchen was in sparkling form to overcome two very capable opponents and reach the last 16 for the second year in succession.

His opener with St Annes top man Mike Fleming was an intriguing affair, but the Yorkshireman took command from the halfway stages.

Indeed, Fleming could not keep pace in the second half of the game and faded to a 31-21 defeat.

The eliminator with Burnley man Phillip Wilkinson was a good contest, despite Hitchen racing into a clear lead 7-3 and later 17-7.

Wilkinson never gave up and gradually reduced the deficit to 27-22, but it was just too late as Hitchen wrapped up the proceedings 31-24.

On Sunday Peter Renwick was the star of the show but only by a whisker as he squeezed home by the narrowest of margins in a thrilling opener with Mick Lang.

For most of the game Lang looked the more likely winner as he led 20-18 and 26-23.

But in a nail-biting finish Renwick edged in front at the vital time with a brace to clinch the game 31-30.

Meanwhile, Brian Topham was in good form as he disposed of Eamon Doogan 31-19.

The eliminator had all the ingredients for a close encounter, but Renwick was very quick to get into his stride and opened up a six point gap 14-8.

This time Topham never settled into any sort of consistency and as the game progressed showed few signs of reducing the deficit as Renwick held on for a comfortable victory.

Results (first round): R Hitchen 31 M Fleming 21; P Renwick 31 M Lang 30; B Topham 31 E Doogan 19. Second round: R Hitchen 31 P Wilkinson 24; P Renwick 31 B Topham 23.

Matches for tomorrow, 6.30pm: P Linton, J Hanson, V O'Donnell, M Pye. Sunday, 6.30pm: M Lang, P Hawkes, C Sigsworth, T Wood.

Entries wanted

THE Hyndburn Bowling League are now taking entries for the Open Floodlit Doubles to be held at Rushton Street, Great Harwood in September.

This will be played on September 13, 14, 15 and 16 with return visit on September 28, and September 20, 21, 22 and 23 with return visit on September 29.

The finals night is October 1. Entry fee is £8 per pair. Send entries to George Ramsbottom, 23 Charles Street, Great Harwood or ring 01254 602149.

Results -- Division One: Burnley Road C 7 Rushton Street E 3; Globe A 8 Salesbury Blue 2; Globe D 8 Clitheroe CC 2; Globe E 6 Globe D 4; Ribblesdale A 5 Free Gardeners 5; Oakhill Park A 7 Globe E 3.

Division Two: Coppice 9 Whalley A 1; Oakhill Asg 3 Ossy Con 7; Rishton BC 7 Globe C 3; Sabden B 9 Rushton Street C 1; Whalley B 6 Waddington A 4.

Division Three: Gatty Park 8 Rishton Con C 2; Grange A 7 Burnley Road 3; Ribblesdale C 4 Sabden C 6; Salesbury Red 3 Mercer Park 7.

Division Four: Burnley Road D 4 Immanuel B 6; Grange C 5 Parkhill Beech 5; Milnshaw Park 4 Oakhill Park B 6; Waddington B 7 Sabden A 3.