BLACKPOOL'S interest in the Bay 96.9 Northern Premier League Slater Cup ended in the second round at Stanley Park when visiting Darwen won the game by 27 runs.

Darwen batted first and made a modest 166-6 in the scheduled 40 overs and in reply Blackpool never really got going and were eventually bowled out for 139 in the final over.

Darwen had lost three wickets for 56 by the 19th over before Keith Semple and John Cordingley put on 50 in 14 overs as the Blackpool fielding became somewhat ragged and both batsmen were missed off relatively easy chances.

John Cordingley was then caught by Hackett off Marcus Sharp for 21 before Neil Cordingley, also surviving a chance to long-on, made a quick 21 before he hit a return catch to Mark Lomas. That was 126-5 in the 34th over.

The rest of the innings belonged to Keith Semple who made a fighting 68 from 97 balls, with seven fours and one six, before he was dismissed in the final over. Jeff Hacking was 12 not out as Darwen closed on 166-6 with Sharp taking 2-29, Walton 2-34 and David Bartholomew bowling eight very tidy overs for only 19 runs.

On a pitch of sometimes uneven bounce it was never going to be easy for Blackpool to overhaul the Darwen total, although a good opening stand of 34 set them off on the right foot.

Darren Walton made 21 and Richard Lamb 23, but only Paul Danson of the middle order reached double figures as Mark Lomas, two, Andy Kenyon, seven, David Bartholomew, five, Chris Barrow, nought, and Steve Mercer, one, all made fleeting appearances at the crease.

Marcus Sharp hit a quick 20 in 26 balls before holing out to Semple at long-on off Hacking. Brooks, nought, was run out and Hackett, two, was bowled by Hacking in the final over as Danson was left 47 not out without having found the boundary.

Blackpool had declined to 139 all out to give Darwen a deserved victory by 27 runs. Neil Cordingley took the Darwen bowling honours with 4-31.

Blackpool are now left to concentrate their efforts on the League where they currently sit in third place, 17 points behind leaders Netherfield who visit Stanley Park on Saturday.