DEFENDING Transco Lancashire League champions Bacup knocked East Lancs of the top of the table and regained pole position in the championship race thanks to a stunning all-round performance from professional Shaun Young.

The big Tasmanian hit a magnificent century as the home side reached 197-8 and then bagged five wickets as East Lancs were bundled out for just 91 to give their title hopes a jolt.

Young struggled to find partners to stay with him early on as Bacup struggled to 74-5. But Andy Spencer then crashed five fours in his 21 in a sixth-wicket stand of 38 and after he had gone to Brad Young, David Thompson helped Young put on a further 71 as the professional opened his shoulders.

In all, Young hit 10 fours and three sixes in his 109, reaching his ton in 132 balls, as the home side put themselves in the driving seat.

And East Lancs were never in with a chance once Young and new-ball partner David Ormerod, who also picked up another five-wicket haul, had got to work with the ball -- the pair reducing the visitors to 39-8.

It was only in an effort to give wicket-keeper John Chapman his first ever five-victim tally that Bacup conceded some cheap runs late on as Matthew Egan and Ian Haworth added 35 for the last wicket.

Todmorden were glad to hear of that result as they edged slightly nearer the top despite losing on run-rate to Haslingden at Bentgate.

Haslingden reached 153 before being bowled out inside the last of their allotted 47 overs thanks largely to an eighth-wicket stand of 54 between Andy Smith, who made 46, and Andy Sidley (23).

The pair took the home side from 95-7 to 149-7 before Steve Oddie and professional Matthew Nicholson, who took 5-75, wiped up the tail.

Todmorden were then making good progress towards a maximum points victory as they reached 99-3, Chris Dearden making 43 and Stuart Priestley 22, before Priestley was given out leg before to Haslingden professional Ian Austin, whose form was being checked out by Lancashire chairman Jack Simmons.

Nicholson was unbeaten on 25 but the rain then came, leaving Todmorden 15 short of what would have been a winning total once play was abandoned.

Having batted for 31 overs there was some consolation for the visitors, however, as they took six points to move further clear of Rishton and closer to East Lancs in second.

Rawtenstall moved above Rishton into fourth place in the table thanks to a comfortable eight wicket win over Colne.

Once more professional Matthew Mott did his bit with the bat making an unbeaten 56 -- including ten fours -- but he had strong support from Peter Hanson, who also made 56 but improved on the Australian's boundary rate with 12 fours.

This helped Rawtenstall surpass Colne's target of 129 with ease.

Only paid man Marcus North had made an impact with 43, although lower order batsmen David Swarbrick (23) and Nick Moulding (23) did contribute valuable runs to put some pressure on Rawtenstall.

Colne used seven bowlers to try and dismiss Mott and Hanson but it was all to no avail.

A fine bowling by Jez Hope and stand-in professional Graham Lloyd and a unbeaten batting performance from Chris Bleazard guided Lowerhouse to a convincing win against Accrington.

Accrington were bowled all out for 97 as Hope and Lloyd grabbed three wickets apiece while John Russell took two -- including that of top-scoring Tama Canning who made 20 runs.

Accrington must have thought they had a slim chance when they made an early breakthrough to dismiss Chris Swift and Matt Hope for just one run each.

And hopes were raised when Lloyd had made just four runs before he was run out.

But Bleazard and David Whalley guided Lowerhouse to the predicted victory with Bleazard hitting a fine 64 not out while Whalley was unbeaten on 22.

Rishton were thwarted by the weather as they and Nelson took three points each from their rain-ruined game at Blackburn Road.

Only 16 overs were possible, with Nelson reaching 38-2 before the sides were driven off by the weather.

Enfield were also frustrated by the weather after getting themelves into a winning position against Ramsbottom.

Chasing Ramsbottom's 32-over total of 121-9, the home side had reached 65-1 with professional Martin Van Jaarsveld, who earlier took 4-21, unbeaten on 30 when play was abandoned.

Church managed to get three overs in before the match was abandoned and they shared the spoils with Burnley.

The game had been reduced to 30 overs and Church had set a target of 96, with Mark Aspin top-scoring with 47.

Burnley had managed to lose the wicket of opener Ben Law (7) cheaply before the heavens opened.