GREAT Harwood maintained their seven-point lead at the top following their 14-0 home victory over Edgworth, with Tony Dobson winning 21-3.

Colne Cricket Club kept in touch with a similar 14-0 home win over Greenhill. Stuart Marshall winning 21-10. Third-placed St Andrews had a 10-4 home win over fourth-placed Darwen Subs, Simon Willcocks and Graham Proctor both recording a 21-12 home win. John Bentley won 21-18 for Subs.

Sunnybank remain in fifth spot despite losing 10-4 at East Lancs, Paul Fletcher and Kevin Thompson both had 21-13 home victories. Phil Storey won 21-12 for Sunnybank. Globe move up following their 10-4 home defeat of Farington Con. David Bond winning 21-14 and Adrian Burke winning 21-13 for Farington.

Haslingden remain in mid-table. They went down 10-4 at Turton for whom Barry Hall won 21-12. Andy Pilkington won 21-17 for Haslingden. Mortfield recorded a 12-2 home win over Nelson, Peter Conterdine winning 21-10. John Greenwood won 21-17 for Nelson.

Rishton Con were held to a 7-7 draw at home by St Stephen's, Graham Roberts won 21-13 for Rishton with Walter Giles winning 21-11 for the visitors. Results: St Andrew's 10, Darwen Subs 4; Gt Harwood 14, Edgworth 0; Globe 10, Farington Con 4; Colne Cricket 14, Greenhill 0; Turton 10, Haslingden 4; Mortfield 12, Nelson 2; Rishton Con 7, St Stephen's 7; East Lancs 10, Sunnybank 4.

It is an early start for bowlers this week with league matches commencing at 9.30am.

Fixtures for Sunday: Sunnybank v Colne Cricket; Haslingden v East Lancs; Nelson v Globe; Greenhill v Gt Harwood; Darwen Subs v Mortfield; Farington Con v Rishton Con; St Stephen's v St Andrew's; Edgworth v Turton.

After the league matches, the second round of the Knockout will be played starting at noon: Darwen Subs v St Stephen's (at Great Harwood); East Lancs v Greenhill (Darwen Subs); Great Harwood v Globe (Haslingden); Turton v Sunnybank (St Stephen's).

MERIT COMPETITION: John Bentley (Darwen Subs) 145, Alan Handford (Colne Cricket) 132, Norman Hill (Gt Harwood) 128, Simon Willcocks (St Andrews) 125, Tony Dobson (Gt Harwood) 116, Daryl Wright (Colne Cricket) 114, Peter Consterdine (Mortfield) 105, Malcolm Wensley (Gt Harwood) 104, Paul Sutcliffe (East Lancs) 103, Brian Duncan (Mortfield) 103.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.