NELSON'S hopes of pipping East Lancs to the title were dashed on Saturday, as rain meant their match at home to TODMORDEN was abandoned.

Paul Beech hit 59, helping the Seedhill side to make 145-7 before players went off for rain nine overs into the Todmorden innings.

Andy Payne reached the 1,000 run mark for the season with an unbeaten 21 for RAWTENSTALL at BURNLEY, becoming only the eighth amateur to hit that milestone.

Sadly, the game also ended as a no result as, after Burnley made 134-3, thanks to top scorers professional Pierre Joubert (43 not out) and Daniel Pickup (32), Rawtenstall got to 49-1 before the rain returned.

RISHTON suffered a record-equalling 24th defeat of the season at the hands of ACCRINGTON.

Professional Andre Seymore hit 57 before claiming 4-40. His counterpart Rob Nicol earned figures of 4-66 in the first innings.

CHURCH earned a seven-wicket win over RAMSBOTTOM in just 17.5 overs.

There was an exciting end to HASLINGDEN'S game at COLNE.

The Bentgate side made 167-7, with professional Ben Higgins and Gary Hunt putting on 104 in a first wicket partnership.

In reply, Colne needed five runs to win in the last over. Alan Howarth scored one off the first delivery. Michael Blomley failed to score off the next fours balls before Higgins bowled a no ball, which Blomley edged for one.

Howarth then edged the final delivery to third man to scramble the two runs needed to win.

BACUP professional Shaun Young and captain Neal Wilkinson bowed out at Lanehead with a win over LOWERHOUSE.