ST ANNES have reduced Darwen's lead at the top of the table in the Vaux Northern League division one to three points after their winning draw at Birch Hall.

Put in to bat, St Annes openers Adrian Darlington and Andy Kellett put on 25 for the first wicket before the former was caught by Jeff Hacking off Andrew Mercer for 17.

Kellett and Bobby Denning, the latter just back from injury, added 39 runs for the second wicket before Kellett was caught by John Cordingley off brother Gareth for 32.

The third wicket fell at 88 when Denning was caught by Chris Lowe off Jeff Hacking for 26.

The visitors lost their next three wickets for only 18 runs.

Then a seventh wicket partnership of 28 between Dave Callaghan and Sean Bickerdike restored the balance.

The latter was caught by Neil Cordingley off Darwen professional Richard Petrie for 8.

St Annes' tail wagged and they finished in 171-8, with Dave Callaghan undefeated on 40 and Joe Davies on five.

In a painstaking innings the former hit three fours.

In reply, Darwen were reeling at 38-6.

Then Gareth Cordingley and his captain Jeff Hacking stopped the rot with a 40 runs partnership for the seventh wicket before Hacking was caught by Dave Callaghan off Adrian Darlington for 15.

Graham Parkinson and Gareth Cordingley put Darwen back into the driving seat with a 71 runs partnership for the eighth wicket, before the latter was caught at long-on by Russell Bradley for 65.

His aggressive innings included 3 sixes and 8 fours.

After Cordingley's dismissal Darwen were content to play for a losing draw and finished on 156-8.

Joe Davies was the pick of the St Annes bowling attack, taking 4-48 from 14 overs, which included the prize scalp of Darwen professional Richard Petrie for four runs.

This Saturday (July 3) sees St Annes travel to Broadwater to play Fleetwood.

The home side were beaten by Blackpool last Saturday and if St Annes play to their full potential they should remain unbeaten and win.

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