DARWEN suffered one of the biggest upsets of the season as they lost their first Northern Premier league match of the season against Leyland Daf -- their first league defeat at Birch Hall for two years.

Darwen's innings were progressing well, at 46-1 after 15 overs but eight overs later they had lost five more wickets for the addition of only 14 runs.

A spirited stand of 46 between professional Keith Semple and Michael Horsfield raised hopes of a recovery but when Horsfield was adjudged lbw for 18 it was left to Semple to reach another half century until he fell in similar fashion and the innings closed on 122.

Darwen's bowlers tried to ensure they made up for their batsmen's failures and had soon reduced Daf to 40-4 and an unlikely victory seemed possible. It was not to be however and a fine unbeaten 48 from Alan Richardson saw Daf win by four wickets in a controversial match which saw an amazing seven lbw decisions in the 16 wickets which fell and with the remaining wickets either bowled or caught behind. Chorley romped to a 15 point win against Kendal in the league at Windsor Park on Saturday.

The Chorley total of 219-7 from their 60 overs was centred largely on a superb stand of 135 between Bannister, eventually run out for 82 and Horridge who remained unbeaten on 67.

Josh Marquet soon had the visitors' reply in disarray whistling through the top order to claim four cheap wickets, including the dangerous Hunte who was magnificently caught by Fazackerley.

After a mini revival Fazackerley made another crucial intervention, his direct hit running out professional Veenstra.

Despite Mee's unbeaten 51, Marquet and Patel ripped through the tail to leave Chorley victors by 78 runs.

But a lowscoring Nuffield Hospital Cup final went the way of league leaders Netherfield at Windsor Park on Sunday.

Chorley must have been fairly happy to restrict the powerfield Netherfield batting line up to 147-9, but this proved to be enough on a tough day for batsmen.

Netherfield's Wheatman was their top scoring batsman with a mere 26! Wheatman and Clement, both later to bowl superbly, boosted the visitors' innings with the only 50 partnership of the match as Netherfield recovered from 90-7 to post a denfendable target.

Chorley soon lost Patel and Bannister and two rain interruptions did not help their reply. Wickets were lost as Chorley tried to increase their run rate as the possibility of the weather having the final word increased.

Fazackerley, Senior and Horridge all perished trying to up the tempo. Tailender Greaves top scored for Chorley with a 23 but when he was caught on the boundary by professional Vaughan, Netherfield were the holders of the Northern League's first piece of silverware.