AN injured Roger Harper still proved too strong for Rishton at Blackburn Road as he led champions Nelson to an impressive win.

The top of the order, Duncan Spencer (60), Craig Walton (86) and Harper (64 not out), did the damge for Nelson with partnerships of 106 for the first wicket and 114 for the second.

Harper had to call for a runner partway into his innings because of hamstring problems but was still there as Nelson reached 250-3.

Remarkably, the West Indies star then proceeded to bowl 20 overs, finishing with 6-39 as Rishton were dismissed for 147.

Jimmy Bibby (31) led the Rishton reply but they never really looked like getting near their target.

Todmorden looked to be in with a good chance of beating Haslingden at Bentgate but collapsed to a disappointing 119, chasing 162.

Mark Griffin and Barry Knowles both scored 44 for Haslingden who had high hopes of a big score at 103-3. But then Knowles went and Todmorden professional Brendan Nash (6-52) and Alex Scholefield (3-28) dominated the rest of the innings. Richard Baigent (20) and Nash (20) gave Todmorden the platform for a victory push at 56-1. But both batsmen were dismissed on that score and Haslingden got the scent of a win.

Andrew Sidley (4-31) did significant damage by taking three wickets in successive overs.

Neil McGarrell was in blistering form for Church against Burnley at West End, taking 7-22 to give his side maximum points.

Earlier Church had been restricted to 160-9 with opener Phil Sykes top scoring with 33.

Burnley's David Connolly took the bowling plaudits with a seven-wicket haul of his own - finishing with 7-52.

Burnley progressed smoothly in reply, moving to 53-2 before collapsing to 88 all out as McGarrell got to work.

There was a similar dramatic collapse at the Horsfield, where Colne went from 71-2 to 89 all out against Rawtenstall. Professional Lloyd Ferreira did the damage for Rawtenstall with 6-28. Colne's 89 included 50 from professional Joe Scuderi and 29 from John Lambert.

Rawtenstall lost five wickets in reply before veteran Glen Barlow led them to victory with a steady 27 not out.

Some late order heroics from Bernard Reidy helped Enfield beat Ramsbottom at Dill Hall Lane.

Australian pace-ace Matthew Pascoe had ripped the heart out of Enfield's top order on his way to 5-51.

But Reidy came in at number eight to make a timely unbeaten 53, while Dave Bracewell (34) and Warren Eastham also made useful late order contributions, as the home side recovered to finish on 192-9.

Richard Hevingham (32) and Brian Taylor (40) then led the run-chase but Liam Jackson (4-31) and David Saker (3-65) hit back as Rammy finished 16 runs short on 176-9.

Lowerhouse continued their brilliant start to the season with a crushing 99 run victory over struggling Accrington.

An opening stand of 57 between Nicky Hope (29) and Stan Heaton (29) set the home side on their way.

And some solid support from Chris Bleazard (23) and Matt Hope (21) enabled the men from Liverpool Road to amass 161-5. That always looked beyond the visitors for whom only professional Mark Bailey offered any real resilience with a defiant 28.

But, once he went to make it 58-4, Accrington lost six wickets without adding a run as Jez Hope (4-28) and Martin Van Jaarsveld (3-7) mopped up the tail.

Bacup's Dave Ormerod was too much of handful for East Lancashire who were dismissed for just 64 to lose by 21 runs at Lanehead.

Ormerod, proving unplayable on a difficult pitch, took 6-28 from 29 overs and was well supported by professional Brad White (4-31).

Losing wickets regularly, East Lancs were always struggling as professional Claude Henderson top-scored with 19.

Henderson had also returned a six-wicket haul as Bacup laboured to 85, Andrew Spencer's unbeaten 25 proving decisive.

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