LANCASTER had two games in which to anticipate a possible upturn in fortunes but it turned out to be a depressing weekend.

Another league fixture was rained off after monsoon conditions at Chorley on Saturday, before they narrowly lost the re-arranged cup game with Kendal, by just six runs.

Chorley had made 204/4, with Lancaster making 34/1 in reply, before the storm clouds gathered and the heavens opened.

The fixture will not be re-arranged so Chorley lose ground on Netherfield, while the reigning champions took the chance to extend their lead.

Even the cup competition could not provide a tonic for lowly Lancaster. Kendal made 141 on Sunday but Lancaster fell just short on 135, in reply. Now the best Lancaster can hope for is to save face in the remaining league fixtures.

Meanwhile, Lancaster seconds enjoyed another outstanding victory. Chorley proved no match at Lune Road as the home side romped to a ten wicket win.

Skipper, Steve Johnstone, made the visitors bat first, and his bowlers justified his confidence by dismissing Chorley for 86 after 33.3 overs.

Byron Hughes took 3/32 while Stuart Phillips claimed 3/25, but the star bowler was Ian Dawson.

Figures of 3/10 off 9 overs, with an awesome 6 maidens, were a superb contribution. Johnstone also chipped in, finishing 1/13.

Ian Parkinson and Al Cunliffe then made up the deficit in double-quick time. They strolled to the crease at 4.05 but were back in the pavilion by quarter to five.

Parkinson, unable to travel with the firsts, made 42 not out from 43 balls, which included 6 fours and a six. Likewise, Cunliffe finished not out, making 36 off 42 balls, hitting 7 fours.

A welcome 12 points leave Lancaster challenging Morecambe and Fleetwood for top spot with just six games left.

MORECAMBE'S hopes of first team silverware took another slide at the weekend, with a thumping defeat by Blackpool in the league followed by disappointment in the Slater Cup.

In Saturday's game, Blackpool put on a good total of 222/8, impressive, but by no means unbeatable. Their hero was Mark Lomas, who put on 82.

However, it was with ball in hand that Blackpool really came in to their element. Morecambe's first four batsmen, so impressive this season, all went for ducks, meaning an uphill struggle for the middle order.

Despite a good effort from Singh and Maje, Morecambe only managed a total of 74 all out, leaving them 24 points behind leaders Netherfield and also trailing second placed Chorley, while they were leapfrogged by Blackpool in to third.

Netherfield were Morecambe's conquerors in the Slater Cup on Sunday, though Morecambe gave as good as they got in a tough game.

It's a different story in the second XI, however, as Morecambe completed a fairly straightforward win over Blackpool seconds, who put on 77 all out, a total surpassed with relative ease by Morecambe, who made 78/4.

That leaves them in second place in the division two table, just 10 points behind Fleetwood, and a point ahead of local rivals Lancaster.