THE rain swept across the Lancashire League on a soggy and gloomy Saturday – but that bad weather helped the Lowerhouse cause as Charlie Cottam’s men closed in on their crown while sat in their dressing room.

The Burnley side were supported by a big following at Alexandra Meadows but they were on the back foot as East Lancashire started well before the rain came.

Nine overs were possible and the House had lost openers Ben Heap and Jonathan Finch for 10, both falling to the accurate medium pace of skipper Mark Bolton.

But drizzle turned heavier and there was no option other than to go off – and the game was finally called off at 5.04pm.

Accrington too were frustrated by the weather at Colne.

The home side were 3-1 from one over when it rained. The players returned for two more overs before more rain arrived with Colne on 12-2 and at 5pm they too were abandoned.

The weather completely wiped out the game between Rawtenstall and Todmorden, while Rishton were 46-2 at Ramsbottom when that match was called off.

Church were 33-1 at home to Nelson when the rain came, while Enfield were 14-1 against Haslingden before the abandonment.

Burnley and Bacup managed to complete their match at Turf Moor and it was Burnley celebrating.

Anthony Taylor made his highest score of 90 as Bacup racked up 183 all out in a game originally reduced to 48 overs.

Rain saw seven overs lost and Burnley needed a revised 163 to win.

Skipper Steve Brunt roared to 60 from just 56 balls as Burnley coasted home in the 28th over.

Burnley v Bacup

Bacup
AI Taylor run out 90
M Collinge b Hayman 8
M Smith b Capstick 20
TM Farragher b Wasim 0
H Butcher b Wasim 17
S Thompson b Wasim 0
A Spencer c Ali b Capstick 18
A Highley c Burton b Hayman 7
S Ball b Hayman 0
B Lord c Hayman b Capstick 8
D Warren not out 1
Extras 14
Total (10 wickets) 183.

Hayman 9 2 33 3, Mortimer 5 0 21 0, Wasim 14 1 55 3, Brunt 3 0 17 0, Capstick 14.5 1 52 3.

Burnley
Target: 163 from 41 overs
SR Brunt lbw b Highley 60
MQ Ali c Highley b Warren 31
MR Kelly run out 12
Wasim not out 24
CT Burton not out 21
Extras 15
Total (3 wickets) 163.

Warren 6 0 38 1, Butcher 3 1 20 0, Spencer 6 1 23 0, Lord 8 0 50 0, Highley 4 1 16 1, Taylor 0.5 0 12 0.

Burnley won by 7 wickets on faster scoring rate. Burnley 12 pts, Bacup 0 pts.

Church v Nelson

Church
LBP Wolfenden not out 15
Fergusson c SM Lemon b Meade 1
Anwar not out 16
Extras 1
Total (1 wickets) 33.

Meade 3 0 29 1, Thompson 2 0 4 0.

Nelson
DNB
No result. Church 3 pts, Nelson 3 pts.

Colne v Accrington

Colne
L Rimmer not out 4
S Quereshi lbw b Hayhurst 0
B Patel c Zaidi b Ormerod 0
Amjad not out 3
Extras 5
Total (2 wickets) 12.

Hayhurst 2 0 9 1, Ormerod 1 1 0 1.

Accrington
DNB
No result. Colne 3 pts, Accrington 3 pts.

East Lancs v Lowerhouse

East Lancs
JA Finch c NJ Turner b Bolton 10
BR Heap b Bolton 3
J Martin not out 5
Haasbroek not out 3
Extras 1
Total (2 wickets) 22.

Bolton 5 3 9 2, Chester 4 1 13 0.

Lowerhouse
DNB.

No result. East Lancashire 3 pts, Lowerhouse 3 pts.

Enfield v Haslingden

Enfield
A Fazal c Neary b J Sudworth 4
A Gowers not out 9
Coetsee not out 0
Extras 1
Total (1 wickets) 14.

J Sudworth 4.2 2 5 1, Neary 4 1 9 0.

Haslingden
DNB.

No result. Enfield 3 pts, Haslingden 3 pts.

Ramsbottom v Rishton

Rishton
A Bisoodwall not out 25
S Wyse c Parton b Hakin 1
Perren c Parton b Hakin 8
MT Leathert not out 9
Extras 3
Total (2 wickets) 46.

Haslam 7 2 18 0, Hakin 6.4 2 27 2.

Ramsbottom
DNB.

No result. Ramsbottom 3 pts, Rishton 3 pts.

Rawtenstall v Todmorden

No result. Rawtenstall 3 pts, Todmorden 3 pts.