LEAGUE leaders Darwen continued their reign of supremacy at the top of the table with a comfortable 99 run victory over Leyland at Fox Lane.

Batting first, Darwen openers Graham Ainslie and University student Chris Lowe gave them a solid foundation of 51 for the first wicket before the latter was caught by Neil Rimmer off Steve Pallett for 19.

Leyland stuck to their task and Darwen were struggling at 89-7.

Then Michael Douglas, grandson of the legendary Bryan Douglas, and Paul Rodden retrieved the situation with a 32 runs partnership for the eighth wicket. The tail wagged and Darwen were dismissed in the 48th over for 156.

For Leyland, Paul Haydock was the pick of the bowling attack, taking 3-24 from 12 overs, while Steve Pallett took 3-69 from 19 overs.

In reply, Leyland started disastrously when professional Neil Rimmer was adjudged lbw to his Darwen counterpart Richard Petrie for nought.

Mark Swan and Aidan Walsh took the score on to 18 before Walsh became Petrie's second victim, dismissed in identical fashion for 8.

Swan departed bowled by first charge bowler Gareth Cordingley for 16, leaving Leyland on 34-3.

The homeside were in deep trouble at 40-5 when their captain Mark Pallett was caught by Chris Lowe off Gareth Cordingley for five.

The remaining five wickets fell rapidly for only 17 runs, as they were dismissed for 57 in the 34th over.

Darwen professional Richard Petrie took 4-16 from 12 overs and Gareth Cordingley 3-10 from 5 overs

The game ended Leyland 57 Darwen 156.

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