Darwen's form matched the weather -- scorching.

Two victories against Leyland in the Northern Premier League and Formby in the Lancashire Cup saw Darwen amass 504 runs and take 20 wickets.

On Saturday, Darwen entertained Leyland and Leyland soon had Darwen struggling on 49-3. Darwen's middle order was able to steady the ship and Graham Parkinson shared two 50 partnerships with Neil Cordingley who top scored with 41, and Mark Bennett who fell on 39 before the innings closed on 214-8.

In reply Leyland set off at a cracking pace but Darwen tightened their grip and Leyland could only make 156, giving Darwen the maximum 15 points to stay a clear second.

Darwen were at home again on Sunday entertaining Formby of the Liverpool competition in the Lancashire Cup.

Star of the show was club professional Keith Semple, making 135. Semple's innings contained 20 fours and three sixes. He took just 80 minutes and 73 balls to get to his hundred.

Neil Cordingley continued the run fest going on to 73 off just 76 balls, with the Darwen innings finally finishing on 290-5.

The Formby innings was soon in difficulty and they finished well short on 191. DARWEN 214-8

LEYLAND 156

Darwen 15 pts, Leyland 2 pts

DARWEN

M Hadfield c Williams b Tennant ... 0

J Hacking c Williams b Tennant ... 15

K Semple b Tennant ... 12

G Cordinlgey b Rimmer ... 26

N Cordingley c Williams b Afsar ... 41

G Parkinson b Tennant ... 39

M Bennett c Pallet b Haydock ... 30

A Mercer not out ... 21

J Cordingley c Tennant b Rimmer ... 14

Extras ... 16

Total (8 wkts) ... 214

Bowling: B Tennant 16-3-42-4; P Haydock 9-1-43-0; N Afsar 11-2-43-1; N Rimmer 11-2-40-2; N Kenyon 3-0-22-0; A Mercer 3-0-14-0

LEYLAND

I MacDonald lbw G Cordingley ... 25

N Rimmer c Semple b Hacking ... 46

M Swann b Mercer ... 30

N Kenyon b Hacking ... 4

N Afzar c Semple b J Cordingley ... 9

M Pallet lbw Semple ... 15

B Tennant c Parkinson b Mercer ... 5

C Williams lbw Mercer ... 0

I Oakes run out ... 4

P Haydock c Parkinson b Semple ... 0

A Mercer not out ... 0

Extras ... 18

Total (all out) ... 156

Bowling: K Semple 12.4-1-40-2; A Mercer 16-4-33-3; J Hacking 8-09-31-2; G Cordingley 5-1-12-1; J Cordingley 2-0-15-1; J Nicol 1-0-13-0 DARWEN

M Hadfield b Byrom ... 4

J Hacking c Thistlethwaite b Rainford ... 26

K Semple b Eastwood ... 135

G Cordingley c Simpson b Eastwood ... 73

N Cordingley c Simpson b Thistlethwaite ... 12

G Parkinson not out ... 4

M Bennett not out ... 14

Extras ... 22

Total (5 wkts) ... 290

Bowling: P Thistlethwaite 9-0-41-1; G Byrom 9-2-44-1; N Parlane 7-0-54-1; F Rainford 9-0-44-1; A Kenyon 5-0-50-0; A Eastwood 6-0-44-2

FORMBY

N Parlane c Parkinson b Semple ... 28

S O'Brient lbw Mercer ... 1

R Scanlon b Mercer ... 0

A Eastwood run out ... 46

F Rainford b N Cordingley ... 41

S Peck lbw Mercer ... 0

N Hoile b N Cordingley ... 4

M Simpson b G Cordingley ... 46

P Thistlethwaite b N Cordingley ... 1

A Kenyon not out ... 6

G Byrom b Horsfield ... 6

Extras ... 12

Total (all out) ... 191

Bowling: A Mercer 9-2-43-3; J Nicol 5-0-40-0; K Semple 4-0-13-1; N Cordingley 9-0-31-3; J Cordingley 4-0-25-0; J Hacking 6-0-21-0; G Cordingley 2-0-3-1; M Horsfield 1.2-0-9-1; M Hadfield 1-0-1-0