LOWERHOUSE kept the pressure on Lancashire League leaders Walsden with two weekend victories.

On Saturday, House enjoyed and eight-wicket success at Rawtenstall thanks to Ben Heap’s unbeaten 109.

Heap put on an unbroken 132 for the third wicket with Francois Hassbroek (36 not out) to see the visitors to their target.

Andrew Payne had earlier hit 68 in the home side’s 173-7 with George Harding taking 3-50.

Lowerhouse then produced a superb bowling display to beat Rochdale yesterday.

In a match reduced to 20 overs a side the visitors were dismissed for just 50 with House easing to a seven-wicket success.

Walsden also secured a double victory over the weekend.

On Saturday they defeated Accrington by four wickets.

Keiren Grimshaw hit 73 in Accy’s 108 all out after the home side recovered from 34-5 with Jamie Shackleton taking 4-40.

That total never looked like being enough despite Jacob Clarke taking 4-45 to reduce the leaders to 66-5 but Josh Gale’s 57 not out saw them home.

Walsden were then seven wicket winners at Nelson on Sunday, chasing down the home side’s 94-7 in a 23-over contest.

Darwen, in Lancashire Knockout action yesterday, remain in the chasing pack after a two wicket win over Rochdale.

Dave Bowden passed 50 wickets for the season as he took 6-35 to help bowl Dale out for 98.

Darwen didn’t have it all their own way in reply and were 67-6 after Steve Oddy, who also passed 50 wickets for the campaign, took 5-43.

But Kamran Anwar (18 not out) and Sam Painter (16 not out) put on 30 to see Darwen home.

Sam Mulligan hit an unbeaten 53 to help Clitheroe secure an eight wicket win at Great Harwood on Saturday.

Earlier, home professional Ashen Silva made 45 in a total of 129-6 while Phil Aspinall added 38.

Great Harwood’s chance to bounce back was hit by the weather as their Sunday game at Crompton was abandoned.

Chris Cook-Martin made 60 and Kamran Ghulam 57 as Haslingden made 233-6 to see off Milnrow by 175 runs with the visitors all out for 58. Jo Sipocz took 6-33 and Ghulam 3-9.

Both teams saw their Sunday matches washed out - Haslingden at home to Clitheroe and Milnrow at Rishton.

The latter were bowled out for just 76 in their nine wicket defeat to Middleton while Burnley secured a 17-run win over Norden as Cole Hayman (5-50) and Chris Holt (3-31) helped the home side defend 143.

Ramsbottom lost by 104 runs to a Crompton side who played without a professional.

The home side’s Mohammed Jamal struck 114 in a total of 242-9 with Werene Coetsee taking 4-27 and Jon Fielding passing 800 wickets in the league in his 3-44.

But Rammy were never in the chase and were bowled out for 138.

They bounced back on Sunday though to secure an eight wicket win at Church.

JJ Fielding hit 66 not out at the top of the order as Ramsbottom chased down 128 in a 25-over game.

Littleborough’s Thomas Kaber (134) and Joe Smith-Butler (108 not out) both hit centuries and broke the league record fourth wicket partnership with an unbroken 258 but were still on the losing side against Bacup.

The hosts closed on 270-3 but Bacup got home with five balls to spare thanks to an amateur club record 128 from Simon Newbitt.

Both sides saw their Sunday games abandoned, Bacup’s away at Middleton and Littleborough’s at home to Burnley.

There was a comfortable win for Church on Saturday who beat Nelson by 144 runs. Craig Fergusson made 53 and Johnny Riekert 48 in a total of 232 before Josh Dentith took 4-20 and Jack Gaskill 3-31 to dismiss Nelson for 88.

Enfield were winners at Todmorden by 33 runs. The visitors posted 186 with professional Shash Pussegolla making 49. Tod skipper Andrew Sutcliffe took 6-43 and Freddie Priestley then made 55 in the home side’s reply but they were bowled out for 153.

Tod lost again on Sunday at home to Colne. The visitors made 142-5 from 23 overs and Tod fell short on 135-6.

Accrington secured a commanding win over East Lancashire with Grimshaw (70) and Clarke (50) helping them to 208-8, a total the visitors never got close to.