SOUTH African spin doctor Corrie Jordaan has struck fear into the hearts of Lancashire League batsmen.

His prodigious 9-59 on the opening day of the campaign at Church was followed up by five wickets against Enfield and a 3-37 haul against East Lancs, including seven maidens in a eminently economical 21 over stint. Lowerhouse skipper Matt Hope has no reservations about the slow, left arm spinner who arrived as a last minute replacement at Liverpool Road for Shawn Flegler.

He said: "He is certainly the best bowling professional I've seen in the Lancashire League.

"I would say about 70 per cent of his balls were unplayable last weekend. He beat the bat so many times without getting a nick.

"Corrie spins the ball a long, long way and his accuracy is phenomenal. He can drop the ball on the same spot every time and he is so difficult for batsmen to get away.

"At times, especially against Church and Enfield, his bowling was simply unbelieveable." Hope recognises that Jordaan will be hard pushed to match the 838 runs scored by Flegler in 1996, but his potential for abundant wicket taking is already in evidence.

Hope added: "Shawn scored a lot of runs for us and we will miss that, but I genuinely think we've landed a top quality spin bowler.

"Corrie topped the South African state averages in 1995 and he has a great eagerness to win when he is out on the field.

"He got most of his wickets on hard and flat pitches in South Africa so goodness knows what he will be like when our pitches dry out.

"Corrie says he doesn't want to return home without winning something in England this summer. That could be great news for Lowerhouse."

Meanwnhile, 7-4 title favourites East Lancs are already living to their top billing after a third win on the bounce against Lowerhouse last Sunday powered Billy Stelling's side to the summit of the table.

That leaves East Lancs a point clear of Ramsbottom, who take on Matt Hope's men at Acre Bottom.

Stelling is satisfied that they can continue their sparkling form when Colne are the visitors to Alexandra Meadows tomorrow.

"Colne, like us, have a good start but we are starting to fire on all cylinders and we have the players to achieve something this season," he said. "I'm backing us to do well this season." But East Lancs will have to deal with Colne's prolific Aussie professional Ben Johnson.

His 89 against Accrington on Sunday suggested that he is running into the sort of prolific form which saw the South Australian smash the Lancashire League record books last season with a mammoth 1,718 runs, including eight centuries and 18 half centuries.

James Peterson's batting form has powered Bacup into early title contention.

The former Barnoldswick pro has already clocked up hefty knocks of 72, 46 and 113 and the big hitting Aussie will be keen to continue his run feast against Nelson - with Alan Dawson available at last along with Rishton's Meryck Pringle and Burnley's Dale Benkenstein - at Seedhill.

Champions Rishton, still smarting from a massive 105 run defeat defeat to Worsley Cup winners Ramsbottom, will be keen to bounce back at Todmorden.

Accrington, who collected their first points of the season at Burnley last weekend when Nathan Astle led them to victory with a masterful109, face an altogether tougher encounter when Haslingden - with Steve Titchard standing in for the injured Brad McNamara - visit Thorneyholme Road.

Burnley go in search of their first win at Enfield while bottom-of-the-table Church are banking on a change of fortunes at Rawtenstall.

Saturday fixtures: Accrington v Haslingden, Enfield v Burnley, East Lancs v Colne, Nelson v Bacup, Ramsbottom v Lowerhouse, Rawtenstall v Church, Todmorden v Rishton.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.