THE meeting of Darwen and Preston in the first round of the Vaux Samson Cup between the clubs currently lying first and second in the Northern League resulted in a resounding 78 run victory for the Birch Hall side.

All-rounder Gareth Cordingley was the star as Darwen maintained their 100 per cent start to the season

. He came to the wicket following the first ball loss of last week's centurion Graham Ainslie and shared first in a second wicket partnership of 96 with Gary Jackson (39), and then a stand of 104 with professional Richard Petrie (65) who is quickly becoming a favourite with Darwen fans.

Cordingley was eventually dismissed four short of a deserved century in an innings which included four sixes and seven fours as Darwen reached a formidable 219-4 from 45 overs.

Preston were soon in trouble losing early wickets for 23 and despite a partial middle order recovery victory was always a remote possibility confirmed when Cordingley was handed the ball and took three wickets in five overs to leave the visitors playing out time. DARWENPRESTON

P Mann b Rodden...20

A Mann b Mercer...2

A Bukhari lbw Petrie...0

B Bruce b Hacking...2

G Johnston b G Cordingley...39

P Payner c Petrie b G Cordingley...16

Parekh b G Cordingley...8

B Harrison not out...27

R Kaye not out...8

Extras...19

Total (7 wkts)...141

Bowling: Petrie 9-3-12-1; A Mercer 9-1-19-1; J Hacking 6-0-25-1; P Rodden 9-1-34-1; G Cordingley 4-1-17-3; N Cordingley 7-0-23-0; G Ainslie 1-0-1-0.

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