DARWEN'S double-header with Preston over the weekend saw them claim eight points from a winning draw on Saturday which they followed up with a comprehensive seven wicket victory in the Thwaite's Smooth Cup on Sunday.

Darwen batted first on Saturday and solid contributions from John Cordingley (44), Gary Jackson (54) and Gareth Cordingley (47) saw them amass 200 for the loss of eight wickets.

The Preston reply stuttered to 33 for three, with Semple claiming two for 14 from his first eight overs with Bamber being run out by Neil Cordingley.

This brought together Seadon and Akbar and the pair took the score to 111 before Akbar fell to Gareth Cordingley for 46.

Seadon continued to take the attack to Darwen and the game was evenly balanced with Preston on 131 for four with 12 overs remaining when the rain returned to wash out the game, leaving Seadon stuck on 44.

Darwen's eight points saw them close in on leaders Netherfield who were steam-rollered by Fleetwood.

On Sunday Preston were put into bat in a game reduced to 30 overs a side by the early heavy rain.

After a bright start from McDonnell(22) and Akbar (18) took the score to 41 from just 10 overs Darwen struck back with the Cordingley brothers taking a wicket a piece in their second overs.

From this point wickets fell steadily with Cook claiming two for five from his tidy spell and Semple and Mercer wrapping up the tail to see Preston all out for 104 inside 28 overs.

Darwen's reply got off to a slow start but with Jackson anchoring the innings, hitting an undefeated 39, bright contributions from Semple (16), Gareth Cordingley (12) and Neil Cordingley (15) saw Darwen comfortably home with five overs to spare.

Darwen Seconds secured two fine victories. On Saturday they totalled 211 with a partnership of 125 between Bolton(65) and Grant (71no) being the mainstay of the innings.

Davies and Lawrenson were the leading wicket takers as Preston were dismissed for 104. On Sunday Darwen hit 154 from only 20 overs with Newton and Grant top scoring. Preston fell over 60 runs shy.

NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE : ST ANNES 35, CHORLEY 137 (Chorley 15 pts won by 102 runs). Scorecard has been faxed to the office by the Chorley scorer, Dave Hindle.

A DEVASTATING display of swing bowling by Chorley professional Stephen John, who claimed seven for eight in 11 overs, skittled St Annes for just 35 as Chorley wrapped up a maximum 15 points win in double-quick time at Vernon Road.

After inserting their visitors, St Annes must have been well satisfied in bowling Chorley out for 137, to which skipper Nigel Heaton contributed an unbeaten 34, Nicky Woods 26 and Michael Critchley 20.

But it immediately looked a massive target for the home side when John removed West Indies professional Jimmy Adams for a single and made it three wickets in four balls to leave St Annes on four for three.

It was soon seven for four and then 16 for five but ten runs were then added before two further wickets went down with the score on 26.

John fired Chorley to victory with two more wickets in three deliveries and Andy Houldsworth chipped in with the final dismissal as St Annes lost their last three wickets without addition on 35, the innings closing after just 21.1 overs.

John's final analysis was an astonishing 11-7-8-7.

Chorley's victory moves them three places up the Northern Premier League table above their hosts into fifth.