DARWEN lost in the final of the Nuffield Cup at Fox Lane in a low scoring game to Leyland yesterday.

Darwen chose to bat first and soon regretted the decision losing their first five wickets for just 42 runs inside the first 18 overs with Haydock picking up four wickets.

John Cordingley then led a spirited revival as he added 34 with captain Jeff Hacking and 35 with Mark Bennett before he fell to a needless run out for 42 with the score on 111.

He had hit his runs from just 54 balls including five fours and a six and had taken every opportunity to punish the Leyland attack.

Darwen managed to scramble a further 28 before they were finally dismissed for 139 with extras being the second top score on 29.

The total never really looked enough, but Darwen were determined not to be beaten without a fight and they had the Leyland reply in all sorts of trouble at 33-4 as three quick wickets fell to Gareth Cordingley for just two runs in his first four overs.

Sub professional Brian Nash and Tennant then added 68 to see Leyland nearly home before Williams joined Nash as he hit the winning runs with eight overs to spare.

It was a different story on Saturday as Darwen continued their march up the Northern League table with a thrilling last ball win over Lancaster at Lune Road.

Darwen had Lancaster pinned down for much of their innings as they struggled to 60-2 from the first 35 overs. However, club professional Gareth Breese then set about the Darwen attack as he and Phillips added 149 before Phillips finally fell for 65 in the 59th over whilst Breese went on to make 99 not out as the Lancaster innings finished on 203-4.

The Darwen reply got off to a solid start as Jackson and Lowe put on 40 before both fell in fairly quick succession.

Semple and Gareth Cordingley then took the score on quickly to 116 when Cordingley fell to Breese.

Semple went on to make a stylish 69 before he too fell to Breese with the score on 183.

It was then left to John Cordingley to see Darwen home as he hit an impressive 27 not out.

He and Mark Bennett were able to ensure that Darwen were able to hit the nine runs required in the final over to give Darwen the 12 points they deserved.

Darwen Second made it a victory double thanks to a five wicket win over top of the table Lancaster on Saturday. The low scoring game went Darwen's way thanks to the nine wickets taken by Cook (four) and Davies (five).

NUFFIELD CUP -- SUNDAY

DARWEN 139

LEYLAND 140-5

DARWEN

G Cordingley c Bavla b Haydock ... 8

C Lowe c and b Rimmer ... 13

K Semple c Rimmer b Haydock ... 4

G Ainslie lbw Haydock ...0

N Cordingley b Rimmer ...8

J Cordingley run out ... 42

J Hacking b Tennant ... 5

M Bennett b Nash ... 14

G Parkinson run out ... 11

G Jackson not out ... 5

M Horsfield c Namajee b Pallett ... 0

Extras ... 29

Total (all out) ... 139

Bowling: P Haydock 9-1-22-4; S Pallett 8.2-1-29-1; N Rimmer 7-2-13-1; B Tennant 9-1-32-1; N Kenyon 1-0-7-0; B Nash 9-3-23-1

LEYLAND

M Bavla c N Cordingley b G Cordingley ... 13

N Rimmer c Lowe b Semple ...7

B Nash not out ... 68

N Kenyon c Parkinson b G Cordingley ... 0

M Pallett c Ainslie b G Cordingley ... 4

B Tennant b Hacking ... 24

C Williams not out ... 18

Extras ... 6

Total (5 wkts) ... 140

Bowling: K Semple 9-2-28-1; J Hacking 9-1-38-1; G Cordingley 9-2-23-3; N Cordingley 4-1-15-0; G Jackson 5-0-28-0; M Horsfield 0.5-0-5-0

NORTHERN LEAGUE -- SATURDAY

LANCASTER 203-4

DARWEN 206-6

Lancaster 3 pts, Darwen 12 pts

LANCASTER

D Heywood lbw N Cordingley ... 21

C Ferro c Parkinson b Semple ... 3

G Breese not out ... 99

L Phillips b N Cordingley ... 65

I Burstow c Horsfield b Hacking ... 3

P Dennison not out ... 2

Extras ... 10

Total (4 wkts) ... 203

Bowling: K Semple 17-5-25-1; J Hacking 17-3-67-1; G Cordingley 12-1-38-0; N Cordingley 14-1-63-2

DARWEN

G Jackson c Cunliffe b Barnes ... 25

C Lowe b Breese ... 18

K Semple b Breese ... 69

G Cordingley b Breese ... 33

N Cordingley b Burstow ...8

J Cordingley not out ... 27

J Hacking b Breese ... 7

M Bennett not out ... 7

Extras ... 12

Total (6 wkts) ... 206

Bowling: G Barnes 19-5-56-1; J Dawson 4-1-18-0; G Breese 22-3-66-4; I Burstow 10-0-59-0