FOR THE second time this season Darwen saw a winning position against St Annes thwarted by the rain in the Northern Premier League.

St Annes totalled 172 from their 60 overs mainly thanks to a stubborn 60 from Twist after the St Annes innings was in real trouble at 85-5. Twist was eventually joined by Davies and the pair added 63 runs in just 12 overs.

The Darwen innings was soon in trouble at 3-10 following a remarkable hat trick from St Annes professional Dave Callaghan. With the last two balls of his second over he had Mark Hadfield trapped lbw for none and then Darwen's professional Keith Semple superbly caught first ball by Whalley. The first ball of his third over saw Simon Painter padding up to be given lbw making this a unique hat trick for the pro.

However Gareth Cordingley and Chris Lowe led a steady comeback and Cordingley in particular looked in fine fettle as he punished all the St Annes bowling to hit a quick 30. With Darwen on 50-3 from just 18 overs the rains then came to save St Annes. With Netherfield being the only team to win at the weekend, Darwen must now concentrate on consolidating second spot.

The weather turned out to be the only winner at Woodhill Lane as Chorley escaped with a winning draw from the jaws of defeat.

Despite a lively 40 from Iqbal Patel and decent contributions from Neil Bannister and Roland Horridge, Chorley were rolled over for 130 in the face of a superb spell from Peter Stephens who took 6-30.

Nick Milner and captain Phil Thornton took Morecambe to the brink of victory before rain had the final word just after 6pm.

CHORLEY 130 MORECAMBE 110-4

Chorley 4 pts Morecambe 3 pts

CHORLEY

N Heaton c Thornton b Stephens ... 2

I Patel c Prince b Stephens ... 40

I Mawdesley c Eccles b Stephens ... 3

J Greaves c Gudgeon b Stephens ... 1

J Fazackerley c Prince b Stephens ... 4

N Bannister c Gudgeon b Clough ... 30

R Horridge c Gudgeon b Eccles ... 22

N Senior lbw Clough ... 0

I Oakes lbw Clough ... 0

Marquet c Prince b Stephens ... 13

S Cooke not out ... 1

Extras ... 14

Total (all out) ... 130

Bowling P Stephens 19-6-30-6; F Patel 5-0-29-0; T Clough 21.4-6-46-3; J Eccles 8-4-13-1

MORECAMBE

M Woodhead c Bannister b Mawdesley ... 26

A Mashiter b Patel ... 1

A Prince lbw Patel ... 2

N Milner not out ... 36

G Maje c Heaton b Marquet ... 3

P Thornton not out ... 33

Extras ... 9

Total (4 wkts) ... 110

Bowling Marquet 11-3-34-1; I Patel 7-1-18-2; I Mawdesley 3-0-12-1; S Cooke 4-0-29-0; N Heaton 1.1-0-11-0