A DISASTROUS opening weekend in the Bay Northern Premier League saw all three local sides suffer heavy defeats.

Preston went down to a ten wicket defeat at Morecambe and could not even manage a bonus point after being bowled out for 109. Leyland and Farrington could manage just 81 in reply to Darwen's 210 for 7 though they did at least attain one bonus point.

Meanwhile it was ex-professional Stephen John who did the damage against Leyland Motors on his debut for Chorley.

Having put Chorley in to bat the home side lost two early wickets to Prince, before a stand of 65 between Heaton and Tom Smith. Heaton's knock ended on 28, but Smith went on to a maiden league 50 before being defeated by a 'grubber' from Rounding.

Chorley's innings was then underpinned by Senior's 45 not out. With support from John and Richardson the wicketkeeper took Chorley to a useful total of 181 for 8.

The Motors' reply was a disaster. Makinson was removed by John with only his second ball for his new club, courtesy of a fine low catch by Senior, and then Iqbal Patel with his opening delivery of the new season had Aspinall caught off an ugly shot. Iqbal then trapped professional Ashraf lbw and dismissed Edelston who thin-edged to Senior.

Captain Catterall and Baines mounted a revival of sorts with a stand of 25 until Bill Smith claimed his maiden league wicket, Baines lbw to a ball that kept low.

John returned to mop up the tail with three wickets in just four balls to finish with 5/14, an analysis that would have been even better but but for half a dozen no balls-while Patel took 4/27.

Despite Catterall's obdurate, undefeated 23 Motors were hustled out for a paltry 60 to get their season off to the gloomiest possible start.