GEOFF Ellis destroyed Accrington with a seven-wicket show to inspire Colne to an opening day win in the Transco Lancashire League.

Sent in, Accrington made a steady start with an opening partnership of 40, but then Ellis was introduced and soon put the skids under the home side with his 7-42.

With professional Ben Johnson (63) and Gary Hunt (53) going on to lay the foundations for a successful run chase, Colne made just the kind of start they wanted to the new season.

Ironically, Ellis's victims did not include Accrington professional Nathan Astle, whose own season got off to a false start with a duck. Thanks to a ninth-wicket stand of 35, however, Accrington eventually made a respectable 144.

But Johnson, who stroked seven boundaries, and Hunt, who claimed five, soon made the result inevitable with their opening stand of 113. There was a bit of a struggle after that but Colne eventually got home with several overs to spare.

Simon Read knocked over Rishton at Blackburn Road to earn Ramsbottom an impressive 12 points.

The visitors recovered from 60-3 to make 151-3, thanks to Tommy Read (48 not out) and Nick Riley (59 not out). Riley's half-century included four sixes and three fours against a Rishton attack in which substitute professional Peter Sleep bowled steadily.

It didn't take Read long to get to work and the collection boxes were going round as he took the first five wickets to fall. His 6-35 proved the matchwinning performance and Rishton never looked like getting anywhere near their target, despite a defiant 26 from John Davies.

Half-centuries by captain Nigel Hunter and Alex Scholefield helped Todmorden to a 31-run victory over Rawtenstall at Centre Vale.

Hunter and Scholefield both made 56 before they became two of Keith Roscoe's six victims.

The Rawtenstall skipper took 6-51 -- to take his overall league tally to 615 victims -- as Todmorden made 192-9.

Rawtenstall, who finished bottom last season, were always struggling in reply with Todmorden's Australian professional Dan Marsh matching Roscoe with 6-61.

Rain limited the visitors' target to 177 but they couldn't get there although Bingham (25) and Glover (21) put on a battling ninth wicket stand.

Paul Strang didn't let the wet weather dampen his spirits as he inspired Haslingden to victory in a reduced over contest with Enfield.

The Zimbabwean marked his debut as Bent Gate professional with a fine all-round display, chipping in 32 runs -- the game's top individual score -- and then taking four cheap wickets.

Haslingden made 115-7 from their 31 overs despite some good bowling from visiting pro David Saker and Liam Jackson and then restricted Enfield to just 96-9. Michael Blomley offered sound support to Strang, taking 3-21 from 12 tight overs.

East Lancs kicked off their bid to lift the Lancashire League title for the first time in 10 years with a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over Lowerhouse at Liverpool Road.

Pace-bowler Nas Iqbal was the man who did the damage, picking up 4-25, as the home side were restricted to 120-9.

South African professional Martin Van Jaarsveld top scored with 38 for Lowerhouse but once he went wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals as Ian Haworth claimed 3-36 and Claude Henderson took 2-55.

East Lancs had little trouble in knocking off the runs once opener Andy Clague slipped into top gear.

His 64 came off 118 balls and included seven fours and one six as the visitors cruised home with 15.2 overs and seven wickets to spare.

New Bacup professional Adam Dale had a day to forget as Burnley triumphed following a tense finish at Lanehead.

The Aussie Test bowler was out of luck with the ball as his opposite number, Geoff Foley, hammered an unbeaten 65 to help Burnley amass a challenging total of 156-5.

Rain then interupted the Bacup reply, leaving the home side to chase a reduced target of 147 from 46 overs.

And they were always going to be up against it once Dale departed without troubling the scorers.

John Chapman put them back in contention with an enterprising 28, but when he got run out, the rest of the tail just failed to eek out the necessary runs as Bacup finished four short. Nelson and Colne will share the Colne Trophy after rain wrecked the annual challenge match between the league champions and the Worsley Cup winners on Saturday.

Colne were 98-4 from 29 overs when the game was abandoned. Ben Johnson top-scored with 41.