MARK Higgins made a name for himself on his COLNE debut with 106 as they beat TODMORDEN.

The Aussie faced 137 deliveries, smashing 12 of them for four and one for six as Colne rattled up 229-5 off their 50 overs.

Higgins shared in a second wicket stand of 170 with Gary Hunt, who made 81. They carried the score from 26 to 196, which in itself would have been enough to win as Todmorden managed just 192-9.

Half centuries by Weir and Heywood were the highlights of their innings, but Higgins was also Colne's hero with the ball as he took three wickets for 49 runs.

Hunt weighed in with two, while Jeff Ellis also took three.

Ironically, the pro for RAWTENSTALL, Mike Smith, matched Higgins run for run with 106, more than half of their total of 203 against RISHTON.

Scott Greaves took five wickets and Rob Nicol four as Rawtenstall's middle order faltered with three successive ducks on the scorecard.

But Smith's runs were enough and he emphasised this with three wickets for 28 as Rishton were all out for 114.

Peter Seal was the top wicket taker for Rawtenstall, dismissing four of the visiting batsmen.

BURNLEY got off to a flying start at home as they registered a six wicket success over HASLINGDEN to take maximum points at Turf Moor.

It was not the happiest of starts for Queenslander Jerry Cassell as the Haslingden pro was shot out for just one run by Jonathan Clare and, though the visitors recovered, they could not have been happy to have put only 181 on the board before they were ousted.

David Connolly led the Burnley attack and gained five scalps at a cost of 53 runs from his 18.2 overs.

The reply saw Burnley's South African pro Pierre Joubert, in his second season at Turf Moor, pile on the pressure with 68 runs to add to his two wickets.

It set up Burnley for a winning finish, but it has to be assumed that Gareth Halley had a prior commitment in the evening given the manner in which he completed the victory.

Halley hit 21 runs in an innings of just six balls with his tally coming with a three, a dot ball, a six and then three fours.

ACCRINGTON professional Andre Seymore looked to have paved the way for his side to start the new season on a winning note.

The South African took four wickets at RAMSBOTTOM to leave the home side on a perilous 143 all out.

Wicket keeper Adam Barnes had also played his part in limiting Ramsbottom to a more than reachable total with two catches and one stumping.

But what Seymore did with the ball he couldn't follow up with the bat and only made 12.

Youngsters Graham Sneddon and James Hayhurst impressed to bump up the visitors' total after Mo Ahmed and Matt Wilson, who can usually be relied on to hit a few runs were both bowled out for ducks.

Accrington were eventually dismissed for 107.

CHURCH professional Greg Mail delivered the goods to see off LOWERHOUSE at Blackburn Road .

The Australian snapped up five wickets in his 25-over spell before hitting 102 after Lowerhouse had set a victory target of 196.

Mail was backed up by Phil Sykes, who notched 22 runs, but the rest of the order offered little and it was left to a first class performance from the professional to pick up the points.

Chris Blezard top scored for the visitors while opener and captain Matt Hope got Lowerhouse off to a bright start with a gutsy 30, while paid man Ryan Harris marked his debut with two wickets and 25 runs.

EAST LANCS professional Johann Louw took four wickets to lead his side to victory against NELSON.

The South African took the all-important wicket of Nelson pro Joe Scuderi but Stuart Lemon pushed the score along, hitting 49 in just 34 balls, as the home side set a target of 180 to win.

East Lancs, who claimed 12 points, reached their target with four wickets to spare.