CHORLEY took the honours in the derby clash at Fox Lane with a convincing seven wicket win in blistering heat to leave Leyland rooted at the bottom of the Northern Premier League table.

Leyland elected to bat on winning the toss and made a painfully slow start.

Chorley's professional Stephen John removed both openers caught behind and after 25 overs Leyland were a snail-like 25/2.

Patel played a patient innings eventually top scoring with 43 made over two and a half hours of watchful batting. John took four wickets taking him to 50 league victims and Andy Harty took 4/16 in ten tight overs. In contrast to Leyland's pedestrian start, Chorley made a start as hot as the weather. The first six overs produced 40 runs as the openers, Smith and Oatley, decided that it was easier to get the runs in boundaries rather than expending energy running.

The opening stand was worth 82 when Smith drove to cover having made 57, the variety having been lent by the fact that his 13 boundaries were despatched to all parts.

Oatley wasn't hanging around either blasting seven boundaries and a huge six in a season's best 47 before being narrowly run out.

Fazackerley went cheaply but Heaton and Critchley rattled off the 20 needed to secure 12 points for the visitors.

Leyland142 Chorley 144/3