LOWERHOUSE came back from the death to snatch a crucial win against Burnley and take a stranglehold on the Lancashire league title.

Jonathan Clare (39) and Chris Burton (46) looked as if they could take the game away from the leaders early on as they rattled up 75 for the first wicket in no time.

But Clare was dismissed by a superb return catch by Lowerhouse's sub pro, former Settle paid man Robin Morris, who took 6-86 as they were restricted to 193-9.

But Clare and pro Jonathan Harvey swung the game in Burnley's favour one more time as they ripped out the openers and then harvey cleaned up his pposite number Morris to leavue Lowerhouse languishing on 9-3.

That became 21-4 when Clare removed Cottam but Chris Bleazard (80) and Pankaj Tripathi (51) started to rebuild the Lowerhouse innings.

The pair put on 90 before Steve Holden snared them both with Steve Brunt taking two fine catches.

Chris Benbow and Joe Beneduce helped edge Lowerhouse closer to their total before Jack McGregor hit the winning runs off the penultimate ball to snatch a famous win.

Ramsbottom though slumped to a 34-run defeat at Bacup.

Bacup pro Adam Griffith hit 85 in his side's 167 all out and then helped himself to four wickets as the Worsley Cup champions were rolled over for just 133.

Rishton amatuer Peter Sleep passed 1,000 runs for the season as his knock of 73 helped his team to a seven-wicket win over Church.

Church skipper Phil Sykes made 60 against his former club as the West Enders made 147-9 but Sleep with good support from Pervaz Kazi (47) and Dharmasena (30) saw Rishton home.

Nelson's West Indian sub pro Ryan Nurse made an impressive appearance at Seedhill as he first hit 78 off 57 balls in Nelson's 221-7 and then he took 5-39 as he decimated Colne's batting to leave Nelson as red hot favourites to take third place.

A superb 121 by Stuart Newbitt helped Todmorden to victory over East Lancs.

East Lancs batted first and made 169-6 with opener Dave pearson making 75 as her batted through the East Lancs innings.

But Newbitt dominated the Tod reply but support wasn't that forthcoming and Tod rather stumbled home.

Haslingden secured the bragging rights as they beat rawtenstall in the Rossendale derby.

Haslingden's sub pro Imran Tahir took 6-34 as Rawtenstall were skittled for 124.

Graham Knowles hit 42 as Haslingden eased home.

Accrington equalled their worst number of defeats in a season as they were beaten by Enfield by nine wickets.

Matt Wilson hit 75 in his side's 155 but 70 from Craig Fergusson and 53 from pro Alivor Petersen saw Enfield home.