LOWERHOUSE professional Jacques Rudolph set a new club record of three successive league centuries as he led his side to a five-wicket victory over Todmorden at Liverpool Road.

The South African run-machine was out for the first time three innings but still made 116 to take his eight-day aggregate to 419 and total for the season to 746.

Rudolph faced 128 balls and hit nine fours and a six as the home side reeled in Todmorden's 225-7.

He was helped by a 109-run second-wicket partnership with Chris Bleazard, who passed his 50 off 61 balls with seven fours.

The professional then added 46 for the fourth-wicket with skipper Matt Hope and even though Rudolph finally went with the score on 208 in the 44th-over, Joe Beneduce made sure his good work wouldn't go to waste by hitting a rapid 19 to secure victory with two overs to spare.

Gordon Weir had earlier hit his maiden first-team half-century with eight fours and a six as Todmorden, helped by solid contributions from Matthew Brierley, Jamie Summerscales and substitute professional Clinton Peake, set a testing total.

Burnley wrapped up a weekend double thanks to a ton from professional Pierre Joubert and a half-century from 16-year-old opener Jonathan Clare against Rishton.

Joubert reached his second century of the season off 142 deliveries with seven fours and two sixes to complete a profitable two days' work.

He added 120 with Clare, whose second 50 of the summer came off 107 balls with six fours and took him past 300 league runs for the season, as Burnley reached 217-6.

Russell Whalley gave Rishton a typically flying start with his second half-century of the weekend.

The hard-hitting opener hit 12 fours and a six and faced just 99 balls for his 68.

That was made out of a total of 87 when he fell to Steve Holden, whose own prolific weekend continued a day before his 21st birthday.

With substitute professional Goolam Bodi already back in the hutch for nought, Rishton's hopes lay with Peter Sleep but when he went for 30 with the total on 130-5 it was just a case of whether the visitors would collect maximum points.

Excellent all-round performances from substitute professional Lee Castledine and Nick Moulding earned Colne a 17-run win over faltering Ramsbottom.

Castledine made 83 off 120 balls with 11 fours as the home side recovered from 0-2 to reach 173-9.

Moulding also played a key role with the bat as he made an unbeaten 30 and shared an unbroken last wicket stand of 43 with Matthew Constable to push the score just beyond Ramsbottom's reach.

The visitors were still in the hunt when the in-form Simon Read was at the crease as he and David Bell put on 52 for the seventh-wicket.

Read hit 54 off 74 balls with seven fours before Moulding came back to remove him and then Bell to finish with 4-45 as Colne took maximum points for the second time in two days.

Accrington couldn't upset Bacup's charge for the Transco Lancashire League title as bowler David Ormerod worked his magic once again.

Ormerod took five wickets on Saturday and did the same again yesterday to take his season's tally to a staggering 49.

In truth bottom club Accrington were always struggling especially as pro Andre Seymore fell cheaply for 12.

Moshin Ahmed did try to take Accrington's score on with a knock of 47 but he lacked support and the score of 109 was always going to be comfortable for the defending champions.

Accrington did put up some resistance, Bacup opener Peter Thompson (16), Dominic Ayres (27) and pro Shaun Young (7) heading back to the pavilion.

But Matt O'Connor's unbeaten 54 took the Lanehead side past the target - and they finished with a flurry hitting a six to wrap up the victory.

East Lancs pro Con De Lange put an end to Church paid-man Mark Higgs' innings - and that signalled a collapse for the Blackburn Road side.

Church seemed to be in control after East Lancs had finished on 171-9, with Paul Turner top-scoring with 43.

Although Phil Sykes had fallen cheaply (nine), Australian Higgs and Mark Aspin seemed to be in charge.

Then De Lange spectacularly dislodged a stump to run out Higgs on 66 and end his 91-run second wicket partnership with Aspin, who followed shortly afterwards on 51.

This led to a collapse with Church finding themselves on 139-8 with Phil Mercer and De Lange polishing off the middle order and the tail for 150. De Lange finished with 4-37 and Mercer 4-34 with Church also thankful to Turner for two dramatic catches.