HASLINGDEN were made to sweat at Bentgate after bowling Burnley out for 128. They reached 130-6 with less than four overs to spare.

But they were 89-5 and then 104-6 as the visitors threatened a huge upset.

Their problem was not enough runs on the board.

Only Edmondson made it beyond 20. Professional Dale Benkenstein was trapped by Hamish Anthony for 18.

Jack Simpson was once again the backbone of the Haslingden innings, making a super 61 not out.

Burnley proved capable of taking the wickets but in the end there was just too much for them to do.

Lowerhouse produced a battling performance to beat Church in a tight game and maintain their hopes of honours.

It looked like they could be in trouble when Brendan Creevey got among the Lowerhouse batsmen with an excellent stint of 6-31. Stan Heaton (23) and Frank Entwistle (21) steadied the ship a little but Lowerhouse were dismissed for a modest total of 100.

Church seemed to be in with a chance as they set off brightly and especially when skipper Phil Sykes and professional Creevey came together.

But Lowerhouse dug deep into their reserves and, after putting the brakes on, winkled out the opposition for just 71. Matt Hope turned in a fine performance to take 4-18, with professional Corrie Jordaan as economical as usual with his 3-26 from 20 overs. Ramsbottom rolled over Accrington for just 40 runs, with professional Chris Harris in unplayable form.

It was significant that, as Ramsbottom lost six wickets chasing even such a low score, Tariq Hussain - bowling from the same end as Harris - was also able to exploit the helpful conditions.

Harris took a staggering 9-14 as not a single Accrington batsman managed to reach double figures. Extras was top scorer!

But Hussain (5-22) brought a little respectability to Accrington's efforts as they made Ramsbottom fight all the way for the points.

Rishton steamrollered Rawtenstall to defeat at Blackburn Road with professional Meyrick Pringle and John Seedle taking five wickets apiece.

Russell Whalley, with a rapid 40 including two sixes and six fours, and Jimmy Bibby (37 not out) batted well for Rishton as they ran up 170-9. But top scorer was Neil Wells, batting at eight. He hit seven fours and a six in his 43.

Rawtenstall's substitute professional Paddy McKeown took 5-70 but he couldn't help them with the bat as they had no answer to Pringle and Seedle and were tumbled out for a meagre 72. Colne won a thriller at Centre Vale, reaching 174-7 with two balls to spare after Todmorden had made 173-5.

Frans Cronje was chief run-getter for the home side with an excellent 73.

He also bowled superbly, taking three wickets for just 55 runs in his 23-over spell.

But, in total, Todmorden conceded 34 extras and that was to prove decisive.

"We bowled nearly 52 overs in total because of the amount of no balls," said Bzrian Heywood.

Needing 24 off the last three overs, Laycock got three successive boundaries and his 39 not out was excellent.

Johnson also contributed heavily, falling two short of a deserved half century.

A minute's silence was observed earlier for Leslie Forrester, a long-standing servant of the club, who died on Friday.

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