DARWEN made it four wins from four games in the Chorley Building Society Northern League as they totally dominated Barrow in a rain affected game at Birch Hall yesterday.

But the real talking point was a double injury blow for the Towers.

Nathan Jackson was taken to hospital with a nasty shoulder injury after taking a tumble while fielding.

That caused a 20-minute hold-up to play at Birch Hall – and remarkable at the same time an ambulance was arriving at Darwen, one was also driving onto the pitch at Barrow’s Ernest Pass Memorial Ground Darwen bowler Andrew Cook was the casualty as he suffered a freak injury in the second team fixture.

Cook was running into bowl when his leg gave way leaving him in agony on the field.

He was taken to Furness General Hospital and is set to undergo an operation today on a double fracture of his leg.

The Towers turned in a fine bowling and fielding display to pile the pressure on Barrow as the visitors took first knock at Birch Hall.

They had them at 4-2 after early wickets for Kamran Anwar and Neil Cordingley before Ross Brown (23) and professional Kaustubh Pawar (39) steadied the ship.

But the long distance travellers were indebted to Greg Reynolds (25) and Reece Studt (39) as they got up to 143 all out.

The lower order pair kept the scoreboard turning as Anwar (5-48) and Darwen pro George Linde (3-40) stood out with the ball.

The innings was brought to a close by a sensational catch in the deep by Reece Davies, the younger brother of Lancashire star Alex.

Darryl Wearing was trying to hit Linde out of the ground but Davies, who made 136 for Darwen’s Sunday XI in the Palace Shield defeat to Thornton Cleveleys 24 hours earlier, judged the catch at long off to perfection despite a swiring wind.

Darwen skipper Jordan Clarke was looking assured before he found himself on the receiving end of a contentious leg before decision to Wearing, while Ammer Mirza also fell the same way – albeit without any of the controversy – for 13 as the hosts began well.

After their departures John Cordingley and Chris Clarke took over and punished the bad ball.

And they seemed to be coasting to a win until Cordingley was run out for 34.

Linde and Chris Clarke (36 not out) took the score to 104-3 before the rain came – and the Towers were well ahead on run rate when the match was abandoned.

There was also drama but of a very different sort as Chorley were left without a game in controversial circumstances.

They were due at Lancaster but the umpires ruled with wicket dangerous and abandoned the match.

At the moment that is recorded as a void game with both sides being awarded four points.

But Northern League chiefs will look at the report from the umpires before making a final ruling.

Earlier in the day Lancaster called off the scheduled second team game between the sides at Windsor Park, stating they could not raise a team.