Vaux cricket round-up by John Richardson.

TWENTY-ONE matches between them - and local sides are still looking for a single victory after another disappointing weekend in which Leyland and Leyland DAF lost and Preston scraped a losing draw.

This weekend (31 May-1 June) Preston have a chance when they take on Blackpool who are a shadow of their former strength, while Leyland DAF face a tricky match at Morecambe. Leyland are up against it with the visit of Netherfield.

Last weekend Preston had to thank last pair Roger Kaye and Mike Hancock for achieving a losing draw against joint top-of-the-table Chorley.

Preston captain Graham Standering won the toss and put the visitors into bat.

This proved prudent when deputy professional Rudra Singh, opening the bowling, bowled four consecutive maidens.

Then, leading by example, an excellent throw by Standering ran out Chorley opening batsmen James Fazackerley for 13, with the score on 28.

Chorley captain Roland Horridge and Nigel Heaton added 24 runs for the second wicket before the former was caught by John Richardson off his brother Paul for eleven runs.

Chorley's deputy professional Pakistani Pervez Shah, substituting for the injured Ronnie Davies, featured in a third wicket partnership with Heaton off 60 runs before he was caught on the square leg boundary by Lee Kearsley for 27 off second change bowler Roger Kaye.

Neil Senior and Heaton took the score onto 141 before Senior was bowled by Rudra Singh in his second spell for 33.

Chorley, chasing a batting bonus point, lost three quick wickets to Roger Kaye in an inspired bowling spelland finished on 191 for 7.

Kaye was the pick of the Preston bowlers, finishing with 4 for 39, but all the Preston bowlers were tidy, including 16-year-old leg-spinner Atul Sachdeva.

Unfortunately, the Preston batsmen were in poor form and wickets fell at regular intervals.

Graham Dobson and Antony Mann only realised 14 runs for their first wicket before the former was lbw to Gordon Lee for 4.

Deputy professional Rudra Singh and Mann added 32 runs for the second wicket before the latter was stumped by Neil Senior off Rex Purnell for 20.

Singh was next out, caught by Michael Critchley off Purnell for 26 as he was trying to increase the scoring rate.

This left Preston 60 for 3 and their next six wickets fell for only 22 runs.

The only real resistance came from Paul Richardson who made 18 before being caught by James Fazackerley, brother of Blackburn Rovers coach Derek, off Rex Purnell.

Fortunately Kaye and wicket-keeper Mike Hancock managed to play out the remaining overs for a losing draw.

Leyland DAF suffered their second defeat of the season at Sandy Lane against Kendal.

The visitors' captain Richard Ellwood won the toss and put DAF in to bat.

Their opening batsmen Phil Iddon and Martin Collinson only added 7 runs for the first wicket before Iddon was lbw to Terry Hunte for 4.

Three runs later Collinson was caught by Ellwood off Hunte for 3 as Leyland DAF were struggling at 10 for 2.

Stuart Catterall and professional and captain David Makinson restored the balance with a 97-runs partnership for the third wicket.

Makinson was first out for an aggressive 47 which includes four fours.

Nevertheless, seven wickets fell for 43 runs, with Catterall top scoring with 60. His innings included six fours and one six.

Kendal captain, off-spinner Ellwood, returned the impressive analysis of 5 for 37. Kendal raced to victory for the loss of only three wickets. Their Australian professional Corrie Richards top scored with 48 before becoming the first of Duncan Catterall's victims.

Richards and Jim Moyes had given the visitors a firm foundation of 84 runs for their first wicket partnership.

Moyes was second out for 37 caught by Stuart Catterall off his brother Duncan.

Terry Hunte made a quick 22 before being caught by Nathan Braithwaite off Sifton Prince but Doug Green and Paul Ferneyhough with 12 and 16 not out respectively stayed together until victory was achieved.

Leyland lost by six wickets at Broadwater against Fleetwood which was their second defeat of the season.

Leyland batting first and started disastrously, losing their captain and professional Paul Tebay for nought.

He was caught behind by Keith Riley off professional James Maher.

Neil Kenyon, with an accomplished innings of 45, and Neil Gore helped Leyland reach 179.

Jeremy Newman took 4 for 51 and Michael Clinning 4 for 56.

Fleetwood opening batsmen Nic Coultas and Michael Clinning featured in a 90 run partnership for the first wicket which laid the foundation for their victory.

Coultas, who top scored, was run out for 59 and professional Jimmy Maher made 46.

John Whalley, with an undefeated 24, and captain Tony Hesketh with 7 not out, were together when victory was achieved.

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