GEOFF Foley became the first Burnley player to post three successive centuries in the Transco Lancashire League when he hit an unbeaten 120 to consign defending champions Nelson to a 24-run defeat at Seedhill.

Foley followed up his 150 and 109 from the past two games to reach 903 runs for the season and maintain Burnley's revival. The pro dominated the total of 190-8 with his 100 coming off 147 balls, incuding seven fours and three sixes.

Foley then chipped in with three wickets, including that of Nelson professional Keith Arthurton for 44, as the home side were dimissed for 166.

Colne made it a double win weekend thanks to professional Ben Johnson who hit 116 in reply to Lowerhouse's 145-6.

The Australian paid man hit 19 fours and one six from 108 balls as he almost single handedly secured maximum points for Colne and kept them in the title hunt.

Top scorer for Lowerhouse was their pro Martin Van Jaarsveld with 49 before he was run out and only Chris Bleazard offered some support with 42.

However, Ramsbottom stayed top of the table thanks to their three-wicket success at Haslingden.

The home side were restricted to 146-8 with opener Mark Griffin top-scoring on 35 as Tommy Read picked up three wickets. And Simon Lord then rode his luck early on before guiding Ramsbottom home with a priceless 46 not out as wickets fell around him.

East Lancashire stayed hot on the leaders' heels with a comprehensive five-wicket win at struggling Rishton.

Professional Claude Henderson bowled unchanged to claim 5-37, including the wicket of substitute professional Ian Austin for 37, as the hosts limped to 100-7.

Phil Bolton then made 47 and skipper Phil Mercer an unbeaten 21 to ease East Lancs to a 10-point success.

Bacup also stayed up with the pace as Adam Dale again ran riot with the ball against Rawtenstall.

The league's leading wicket-taker claimed his second six-wicket haul in two days as Rawtenstall were shot out for just 48, professional Matthew Mott the only batsman to reach double-figures. Keith Roscoe took all three wickets in the reply but James Cunliffe's 31 not out guaranteed a maximum points win.

Replacement professional Tama Canning led Accrington to a two-wicket victory over arch-rivals Church at Thorneyholme Road.

Canning, who is standing in for Nathan Astle, made an unbeaten 88 as the home side edged past Church's total of 150-7. Earlier, Tom O'Neill had smashed 20 off Canning's final over to boost the home side's hopes of maximum points.

But a sixth wicket partnership worth 64 between Canning and Steve Birtwistle swung the game back in Accrington's favour.

Alexander Scholefield bagged a best-of-the-season 8-29 as a poor Enfield side were skittled for just 61 at Todmorden.

Scholefield's wickets came in a burst of 8-14 as Enfield lost seven batsmwn for just 22 runs. Earlier, Todmorden skipper Nigel Hunter promoted himself up the order and the move paid off as he made 92 in a 44-over total of 185-7, despite the best efforts of Dave Saker who picked up another five wickets.