DARWEN secured eight points and second place in the Northern Premier League on Saturday at Leyland.

Darwen needed maximum points to retain any hope of catching Netherfield.

But it looked bleak when Darwen slumped from 69-2 to 77-6 although pro Keith Semple fought back, recording his sixth century of the season from just 137 balls. He has now scored over 800 league runs. The Darwen innings finished on 204-9.

Leyland's reply got off to a rapid start before Gareth Cordingley had McDonald caught by Horsfield for nine. With the score on 46 Darwen's Mercer got rid of Kenyon for 12 and in the same over he dismissed Swann for four.

Captain Neil Cordingley then took three wickets including the dangerous Leyland pro Rimmer for 37. Leyland finished on 147-9

And Chorley have a great chance of finishing third after snatching a dramatic victory over Leyland Daf by just two runs with six balls to spare at Windsor Park.

Indifferent batting and tight bowling by Daf's Siphton Prince (6-40) and pro Stephen John, who took 3-52, restricted Chorley to 124-9.

Opener Iqbal Patel top scored with 30 but it needed a late 20 not out from Ian Oakes to steer Chorley from a precarious 89-8 to a defendable total.

At first it looked enough as Daf quickly slipped to 7-3. But John's 45 tilted the game the visitors' way and they remained in command until Mark Richardson brilliantly ran out Daf's Alan Richardson for 19.

At 121-7 with more than two overs remaining, Daf were still favourites to win but Patel and pro Josh Marquet won three quick lbw decisions for the addition of only one run to grab 15 vital points for Chorley. Marquet finished with 4-51 and Patel 3-32.