LANCASHIRE were sitting more prettily in second place in the County Championship today after Roses rivals Yorkshire were docked eight points in Scarborough.

Mike Denness and Alan Fordham, the England and Wales Cricket Board's pitch inspectors, ruled late last night that the pitch for Yorkshire's Championship match against Surrey was "poor" because it started damp on the first morning. With Yorkshire heading for defeat against Surrey after conceding a first innings lead of 198, it means they are likely to end the match five points worse off than they started it.

And that would give Lancashire a 15-point cushion ahead of the Tykes in second with only two matches to go.

However, Lancashire's slim hopes of catching Surrey are set to take another blow.

Victory in the next two days would give Adam Hollioake's champions another 19 points, taking them 27 ahead of Lancashire -- again with two games to play.

It means Surrey could have wrapped up the title before they come to Old Trafford in the last game of the season in a fortnight.

Lancashire return to National League action this weekend with games at Worcester on Sunday and against Gloucestershire at Bristol on Monday, needing to win both to preserve any chance of avoiding relegation from the First Division.

Mike Watkinson completed his half century in a rain-ruined second day of the second team's Championship game against Northants in Lytham, as Lancs extended their lead to 43 by moving to 187-9 in their first innings.