LEAGUE leaders Bacup made easy pickings of the weekend's opponents but captain Neal Wilkinson moaned: "We still can't shake off East Lancs."

The Lanehead club bowled Church out for 77 on Saturday before giving Ramsbottom, bowled for 81, more of the same on Sunday.

Bacup's John Chapman equalled the club's wicket-keeping record, held by Fred Mitchell with 45 victims, and now has his sights set on the league record of 55.

Bowlers Shaun Young and David Ormerod were the other heroes of the weekend, with 12 and eight wickets respectively.

Wilkinson said: "East Lancs are still there and it looks like they are going to push us all the way, just waiting for us to slip up."

In the game between East Lancs and Todmorden at Centre Vale the picking up of bonus points went to the last ball.

Todmorden needed 10 off the final over against East Lancs, and Brian Heywood hit two fours and a single, exposing Josh Morgan to the final delivery before he was bowled by Kelly to earn his side two points.

Earlier, Phil Bolton (42) and Paul Turner (57) had paved the way for the visitors with a second wicket partnership of 73 as East Lancs raced to 112-2 off 27 overs before being pegged back to 212-8. Matt Nicholson picked up 4-81.

In reply, Todmorden slumped to 77-7 from 32 overs before Heywood's late rally, assisted by Steve Oddy (41) before the latter became one of sub-pro Dave Callaghan's four victims. Phil Mercer also took 4-29.

Tod pro Matthew Nicholson held Saturday's game at Ramsbottom up for around five minutes when he protested at what he considered to be a dangerous wicket. The ball had hit the Australian on the chin. Play resumed after remonstration from the umpires, but the paid man was caught out for one from the next ball. Ramsbottom won by just five runs.

Five wickets from Danny Kegg weren't enough to give Nelson victory over Colne at Seedhill.

Kegg finished with figures of 5-40 but he couldn't stop Colne passing Nelson's score with two overs to spare. Earlier Nelson had made 172-7 with pro Wade Wingfield top scoring with 52.

But a second wicket partnership between Jeff Ellis (57) and paid man Marcus North (43) set Colne on their way to victory.

South Australian pro Tama Canning was the star of the show in Accrington's 24-run victory over Enfield at Thorneyholme Road.

Canning struck four fours and one six in his 81-ball knock of 65 as the home side posted a 178-9, despite a haul of 4-40 from South African pro Martin Van Jaarsveld. And he then topped that performance with the ball, taking 5-55 as Enfield struggled to 154-9.

Haslingden paid man Ian Austin was also in top form helping himself to a half century and a five wicket haul in his side's seven wicket demolition of Rawtenstall.

Matthew Mott (49) and Peter Hanson (63) appeared to have put the visitors in the driving seat. But Austin struck back with 5-46 as Rawtenstall finished on 187-9.

Peter Seal removed Haslingden openers Charlie Lord and Mark Griffin but Austin (88) and Mike Ingham (58 not out) put the home side back on track thanks to a third wicket stand of 134 to set up the win with nearly 10 overs to spare.

Church came within a whisker of scoring an away success at Rishton. The home side had set 196-7 with opener Peter Sleep hitting 74, but Chruch were looking good as Mark Aspin rattled up a stunning 109.

However, needing five runs for victory, they managed just two runs off the last two overs and lost three wickets.