STUART Taylor won his first event in the Mitsushiba Northern Order of Merit when he beat Lancashire team-mate Michael Hunt by a shot in the Wilpshire Trophy.

And his performance will delight county skipper Cliff Bowman, who has named him in his side to face Durham at the eagerly-awaited Northern League match at centenary club Stand on Saturday.

Taylor, from Eccleston Park, lagged three shots behind Hunt after opening with a 72 but he more than made up the difference with a storming second round of one under par 68 in windy conditions.

Birdies at the 10th and 12th helped him to edge ahead of Pleasington's Hunt, who closed with 72 and stretched his lead in the merit stakes.

Two shots off the pace was Accrington's county stalwart Trevor Foster while five-time merit winner Garry Boardman, from Castle Hawk, and Steve Bryan, from Bolton Old Links, were three adrift.

Scores: 140 Stuart Taylor (Eccleston Park) 72,68; 141 Michael Hunt (Pleasington) 69,72; 142 Trevor Foster (Accrington) 71,71; 143 Steve Bryan (Bolton Old Links) 73,70, Garry Boardman (Castle Hawk) 72,71; 145 Ken Hudson (Hart Common) 74,71, Craig Fort (Nelson) 73,72; 146 Alan Squires (Oldham) 71,75; 147 Marcus Dunning (Bolton) 77,70, Nick Bamber (Fairhaven) 74,73; 148 John Quane (Eccleston Park) 76,72, Steve McGlynn (Blackburn) 75,73.