LANCASHIRE Under-13s made it 10 games without defeat with a nine-wicket triumph over Staffordshire at Egerton CC.

Chris Tye (Bolton) took 4-23 to help bowl out Staffordshire for 119 and Burnley's John Clare (50 not out) and Chorley's Tom Smith (56 not out) steered Lancashire to a nine-wicket win.

The Under-13s match against Surrey at Enfield CC was rained off with Surrey standing on 56-2.

Lancashire Under-14s fared well with the bat in their annual match against Yorkshire, scoring 247-4 largely thanks to Andrew Kerr (65) and Nigel Hallows (67) but Yorkshire held out for a draw finishing on 131-1 at close of play.

The Under-14s went one better in their next match, beating Durham by 111 runs. Nigel Hallows hit exactly 100, helping Lancashire to 233-4 and Durham were bowled out for 122 (Bilal Mustafa 4-10).

Lancashire Under-12s made it a double with a 69-run win against Durham.

The young Lancastrians made 169-8 (David Garner 32, Neil Williams 30, Chris Hennings 32) and Durham were bowled out for 100 (Liam Richards 4-26, Keith Barker 3-10). Lancashire Under-15s completed their ESCA/Lords Taverners County Championship programme with a 129 run victory against Northumberland at Lancaster CC.

That win was Lancashire's fourth in the championship but it was not enough to pip Yorkshire into the semi finals.

Opportunity knocks for Lancashire duo Gareth Scott and Tim Rees at the annual ESCA Bunbury Festival in Devon this week.

Wicketkeeper Scott from Salford, and batsman Rees from Bolton were selected for the North of England Under-15s side for the regional three-day round robin competition, which started yesterday.

The England selectors meet after the final game on Wednesday and will name the two national Under-15s teams for a couple of two-day games on Thursday and Friday.

The A team will take on a President's XI at Exmouth CC, and the B team meet the ESCA England Under-14s side at Budleigh Salterton CC.

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