UNSWORTH went into last weekend as leaders of the Central Lancashire League, but dropped to third after Oldham inflicted upon them their first defeat of the season at Pole Lane on Sunday.

The weekend had begun well, with a straight forward victory at Middleton on Saturday.

Batting first the Moonrakers were all out for 178, in reply overseas amateur J.P.Hean continued his fine start to the season and put on 38 before skipper Entwistle fell to Fernando.

But Hean (78), together with pro Robbie MacQueen (59no) pushed the score along to 163 with nine overs remaining.

Needing just 16 runs for victory Graeme Jones hit seven off six balls before being trapped lbw by Fernando with the score on 173. MacQueen then hit a four and two singles to win the game.

Looking for a maximum 10 point weekend, the home bowlers quickly set about the Oldham batting on Sunday at Pole Lane, with Inkpen, McDonnell and Bloor despatched for just 27.

But then the visitor's overseas amateur Heino Kuhn (50 from 67 balls), paid man Martin Smith (49) Proctor (25) and Thompson (12) ensured the visitors finished on 168.

Hean and Entwistle were tasked with getting Unsworth's reply off the ground, but for the first time this season they failed to do so, with first Entwistle (5) and then Heam (5) despatched, with the score board showing just 16-2.

That soon became 25-3, as Jones fell to his second lbw of the weekend.

With the pressure on, MacQueen and Badenhorst pushed the score on to 83 before the pro went for 44.

Manley (11), Wiggans (10) and Barlow (12) all chipped in but none remained at the crease long enough, and the Bury side finished on 144.

A poor umpiring decision, spilled catches and a pedestrian run-rate left Stand pointless after clashes with Norden and Crompton.

On Saturday at Norden, Stand got off to a slow start and half-way through the innings had only reached 37-2.

The second half of the innings, however, produced almost a 100 runs, giving the bowlers a half decent total of 129-8 to defend.

Sam Warren top scored with 43, while useful contributions were made by John Seedle (23) and Mike Yuill (26).

In reply Norden opener and paid man Asif Mujtaba hit an unbeaten 75 to put his side in the driving seat.

He did receive some help from the umpires, given not out after a blatant edge carried through to wicketkeeper Penchion of the bowling of Sutcliffe.

Brierly was then caught by Yuill off the bowling of Shah, who then removed Mascarenhas and Carl Sutcliffe claimed Tattersall, with the score on 102-3.

But Paul Carroll then hit 21 off eight balls to see Norden home.

On Sunday Stand hosted Crompton and pro John Seedle made two early breakthroughs against the visitors, removing Rigby and Graham, with Crompton on 9-2.

Useful knocks from Dawson (26), Whittle (16) and Zulfiqar (18) provided support for pro Saeed Anwar, who played his way to 90, having been dropped on five occasions.

Anwar's wicket was then claimed by Carl Sutcliffe, as the Crompton innings closed on 187-6.

Stand's run chase got off to another slow start, and at the half-way stage the home side were struggling on 39-5.

Seedle then played his way to a well deserved 47 before being run out, followed by skipper Paul Wilkinson.

With four overs remaining Sutcliffe smashed an unbeaten 26 from 16 balls to leave the Stand reply on 133-8 off the allotted 50 overs, just seven runs short of a batting point.

Radcliffe could have had an impressive weekend, but a rain-induced draw and a 10-run loss scuppered them.

At The Racecourse on Saturday, visitors Heywood batted first, and their opening partnership of Arnold and Cross didn't last long, with Stephen Cheetham bowling Arnold with the score on just nine.

But the second wicket stand of Cross and pro Johan Botha steadied the visitors' ship with a solid 58, before Cross was claimed by Phil Hayes for 24.

Botha and Shaw then pushed the score up to 103, before the latter became home pro Pasan Wanansinghe's first victim, caught by wicketkeeper Richard Farnworth for 12.

After Kaye was bowled by Stu Kelley for six, it looked like the home attack would be too much for the visitors.

By Botha dug in and recorded stands of 28 (with Wilkinson, bowled Wanansinghe for 10) and 30 with (with Rick Purser, 10 not out) to finish on 171-5 off 36 overs.

Once again the Racecoursemen proved generous with the extras, not as bad as last week's 41, but 37 is still far too many, and as expected Wanansinghe was the pick of the bowlers with 2-50.

In reply Radcliffe got to 32-1 off 15 overs, with Botha bowling Bruce Cruse for 10 (Ashraf Gorsi 9no, Wanansinghe 10 no) before the rains came down, with the match abandoned and both teams picking up two points.

At The Paddock the following day, home side Royton batted first and ran up a score of 211-8, with skipper Graeme Simpson leading the bowling with 4-44.

In reply Radcliffe set off at a furious pace. Aussie Bruce Cruse teamed up with Wanansinghe and by the time he was caught his 44 had taken the score to 94-2.

Simpson's 24 in tandem with Cruse pushed the score to 152-3, and victory looked a distinct possibility.

But Imam's bowling claimed Simpson for 24 before whittling away the rest.

When Cruse went with a top score of 85, the chances of catching Royton faded fast, although in the end they were just 10 runs short.