TITLE hopefuls Todmorden feel that some poor decisions have played a part in costing them the chance to clinch the Transco Lancashire League crown.

The Centre Vale club had been one of the sides hotly tipped to lift the championship trophy after adding quality amateurs Steve Oddy and Chris Dearden to the squad, along with new professional Matthew Nicholson, at the start of the season.

Instead, although in fourth place, they are 31 points behind leaders Bacup after a double loss weekend which skipper Nigel Hunter feels was not all their fault.

They lost to Haslingden on Saturday on run-rate after the rain came down.

"It was frustrating as I feel we were the victim of inconsistent rules," said the captain.

"One week the rain comes and you play through it, the next week the game is called off.

"It was down to us to make the runs but the rain came down quicker than we anticipated and we went off and never got on again.

"We want to play as much cricket as we can and I think we should only come off if it is pinging it down.

"I know it is not easy for the umpires but I think they should make a collective decision about the games as, through a season, teams who sneak results when the weather does play a part will benefit.

"Something needs to be done!"

Todmorden picked up six points against Haslingden, while defending champions Bacup got maximum points with their win over East Lancs.

"Bacup were lucky as they played through the weather on both days and got two wins whereas our wash out meant we only got six on Saturday -- although we were beaten by the better side on Sunday."

They were fellow title hopefuls Rishton, who celebrated a six point wicket win over their rivals.

"At the end of the day in that game we were outplayed," he conceded. We have played them three times, they have beaten us once and over a season I think you would accept that.

"The only thing that did disappoint me were two decisions that meant we went from 60-1 to 60-4.

"We had two caught behind decisions, one when Chris Dearden was in his 20s and it didn't even touch his bat.

"But it is easy to complain and I don't mean to gripe about that. It is just frustrating."

After last weekend, Todmorden are hoping to get their season back on track as they face a double meeting with Lowerhouse -- at Liverpool Road tomorrow followed by Centre Vale on Sunday. All the sides will play reverse fixtures, carried forward from May 27.

"I suppose we will be expected to win but they will probably have Claude Henderson as their sub-pro on Sunday and he is as good a spinner as you are likely to face so it won't be easy," said Hunter, who is at a loss to explain why Todmorden have failed to live up to the pre-season hype.

"Perhaps it has taken time for the new lads to gel together this season and we haven't batted as well as we could among the amateurs, except Richard Baigent.

"That has been the biggest disappointment. When you look back, we should have beaten Haslingden and we just collapsed against Burnley the other week and these are the killer blows.

"Bacup will be favourites. They have two good bowlers and one big batter but the rest all chip in. They play as a team and fight hard which makes them difficult to play against.

"But saying that we have to play most of the top sides again and they all have to play each other so you never know.

"Just as long as we finish higher than seventh. For some reason, Todmorden always seem to finish seventh!"

OTHER GAMES: Bacup v Accrington; Church v East Lancs; Enfield v Rawtenstall; Nelson v Haslingden; Ramsbottom v Colne; Rishton v Burnley.