DARWEN capped off a dream weekend with a Readers Cup final victory over Leyland.

The Towers won the trophy for the first time since 2010 after a superb bowling performance at the Stanning Memorial Ground.

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Darwen’s final total of 197-4 from 40 overs initially looked to be under-par as Leyland, with their Lancashire star Luis Reece in fine form, cruised to 100 without loss.

But Darwen’s bowlers fought back in fine style and eventually bowled out the home side for 190.

Sub-pro Daryn Smit was the star of Darwen’s innings after they had lost an early wicket to slump to 9-1.

The Lancashire League run machine has represented the Towers a couple of times this season and he made 80 from 88 balls to push the total up towards 200, with Chris Clarke also adding an unbeaten 46 from 39 balls after Mark Friend (29) and John Cordingley (28) had laid the platform.

But Reece, fresh from hitting 106 for Leyland in their league game on Saturday against Blackpool, got them off to a flying start.

Reece and Chris Parkinson moved the score on to 100 inside the first 18 overs before Parkinson was finally dismissed for 50, from just 54 balls, with Ammer Mirza taking the catch off David Bowden.

Leyland still looked to be in pole position at 127-1 off 24 overs but they started to stumble and collapsed to 143-5 as Reece was out for 60, caught and bowled by John Cordingley.

The home side then recovered to 175-5 but when Andrew Makinson was out for 23 it gave Darwen renewed hope.

All looked set for a final over shootout with 12 needed off the final two but Clarke’s men kept up the pressure with the ball to seal a famous victory and secure their first trophy of the season.

In the end the wickets were evenly shared, with Niall Burke, Neil Cordingley, Bowden, Smit and John Cordingley taking two each to cap a memorable Sunday as the Towers were crowned as cup kings..