EAST LANCS are hoping professional Con de Lange will start weighing in with the bat as they look to make an impact at the top of the Transco Lancashire League.

The Alexandra Meadows side - who have finished runners-up five out of the last six seasons and third the other time - have had a torrid start to the season, winning just two of their opening seven games.

While the South African all-rounder is proving a hit with the ball, it is the bat which is letting the right hander down.

He has scored 49 altogether in those seven matches with three ducks in the last four games.

And this has included two against defending champions Bacup - one in a Ramsbottom Cup clash - who they have been challenging for honours in the last two seasons.

The 21-year-old however has proved his worth with the ball, currently lying third in the bowling averages, taking 17 wickets for 223 runs in those games, averaging 13.12.

And the Boland player hit the headlines, taking 8-20, in East Lancs' comfortable victory over Rawtenstall.

Their other win came against Colne where De Lange chipped in with 2-52 but defeats by Lowerhouse, Ramsbottom, Enfield and the Bacup games has left Andy Clague's men fourth from bottom of the table, already a staggering 31 points behind the current pacesetters Bacup.

They travel to Todmorden tomorrow hoping to kick start their season while they have a tough clash on Monday when they welcome Central Lancashire League side Heywood to Alexandra Meadows in the second round of the Inter League Club Challenge Trophy.

TOMORROW'S FIXTURES: Accrington v Edenfield; Bacup v Ramsbottom; Haslingden v Rawtenstall; Lowerhouse v Burnley; Nelson v Colne; Rishton v Church; Todmorden v East Lancs.

MONDAY'S FIXTURES: Second round of the Inter League Club Challenge Trophy: Burnley v Littleborough, Norden v Colne, Rishton v Walsden, Royton v Haslingden, East Lancs v Heywood, Radcliffe v Enfield, Church v Oldham, Rochdale v Nelson.