FOR the second successive week Vaux Northern League leaders Darwen were frustrated by the weather which caused the abandonment of their league fixture at Netherfield.

Only 19 overs were possible by which time Darwen had reduced their hosts to 68-5 and looked on course for another victory.

Also for the second week running Darwen's nearest challengers St Annes luckily managed to complete their fixture before the rain came to give them a points haul of 24 from their last two games whereas Darwen's two abandoned games have yielded only eight points.

And Darwen's lead at the top has been reduced from 22 to six with the teams meeting at Birch Hall on Saturday in a crucial match.

Chorley's league match against Kendal at Windsor Park was nicely poised when rain stopped play. Replying to Kendal's 173-6, Chorley had reached 85-3 with at least 26 overs still to be bowled.

The visitors' South African professional Ross Veenstra batted superbly for his 79 not out, ably supported by Terry Hunte (42). Roland Horridge (22 no) and Neil Senior (21no) were going well for Chorley when the abandonment came, leaving Kendal with a five point winning draw and Chorley with one point.

Yesterday Chorley reached the final of the Vaux Samson Cup with a comfortable victory over league leaders Darwen by six wickets.

The visitors' final total of 153-8 from their 45 overs owed much to some effective late hitting from Graham Parkinson (33no) and Paul Rodden (21no) after Darwen had been in all sorts of trouble at 82-7, despite good knocks of 30 and 27 from Gareth and Neil Cordingley.

A fourth wicket stand of 67 - the best of the match - between Neil Bannister (45) and Neil Senior (55no) was the cornerstone of Chorley's victory which arrived with almost three overs to spare.

Chorley will now meet St Annes away in the final on July 4.

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