TOP dogs Lowerhouse aim to take another giant step towards only their second Lancashire League title tomorrow when they hit the road to Rishton with a healthy lead over the chasing pack with eight games left.

The House, who have been members of the league since it was formed in 1892 but have only taken the honours in 2005, are in pole position with a 15-point advantage over Todmorden and are now favourites to claim the silverware.

They have won 15 of their 18 games so far and have impressed and are at full strength for the trip to Blackburn Road with Ben Heap the Lancashire League’s U23 player of the month for July after a string of impressive displays.

Rock-bottom Rishton once again field Padiham professional Chris Holt as sub-pro and his spin twin Ali Sartaj is also starting to make his impression on the league with a creditable 26 wickets at a shade over 26 in his first season since making the move from Clitheroe.

Todmorden are in second and look to recover from their loss to Accrington when they travel to beaten Worsley Cup finalists Church determined to keep up the chase, while third-placed Accrington are in the mood for revenge as they travel to Nelson.

Tom Lord, right, and his men stunned Accrington a fortnight ago as sub-pro Kashif Siddique claimed five wickets and clattered a 50 to upset the formbook.

Siddique plays again for Nelson, who will have to use stand-ins until the end of the season after receiving the news that Luke Woodcock would not be returning following international duty.

Reigning champions Ramsbottom have slumped into fifth after losing four league games on the spin and they host Rawtenstall in a repeat of a sensational game at Bacup Road a fortnight ago when Rawtenstall won by chasing down a mammoth 306.

“That was some game,” said Rammy skipper Jon Fielding. “And I could do without that happening again.

“We are now a long way behind the leaders but there are eight games to go and this is when it gets tense. It is out of our hands – but we will go out and look to win all eight matches.”

East Lancashire travel to Turf Moor to face a confident Burnley side, while Enfield want revenge on Colne for last month’s defeat at The Horsfield and Bacup turn to South African spinner Gulam Bodi for their derby with Haslingden at Lanehead.