BURNLEY thrashed local rivals Lowerhouse in their eagerly awaited top-of-the-table clash at Turf Moor yesterday.

Both teams went in to the contest as the league’s stand-out teams - but fans were made to wait for the action to begin as the rain meant it was a late start.

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However, it was worth the wait for Burnley supporters as they enjoyed an emphatic victory over their nearest rivals and the current league champions, winning by 101 runs.

The action did not get under way until just before 2.30pm and, having won the toss, Lowerhouse opted to but their hosts in to bat.

Chris Holt and Vishal Tripathi got Burnley off to a steady start while David Brown was in the mood to swing the bat - one monstrous six landing on the football stand roof - and finished on an impressive 93 not out.

Pienaar and Bailey took three wickets each.

In reply, Lowerhouse got off to the worse possibly start, losing early wickets and never really recovering.

Cole Hayman claimed the wicket of James Whitehead and Lowerhouse were 6-1 and Jonathan Clare dismissed Joe Martin soon after.

And it went from bad to worse for Lowerhouse and first captain Charlie Cottam and then professional Cobus Pienaar departed and the champions were on 25-4.

And that proved to be the beginning of the end for Lowerhouse as they were bowled all out for 72 and it proved to be a welcome 12 points for Burnley.

Holt finished iwth 5-27 off his 10.5 overs.

Third-placed Church took advantage of Lowerhouse’s slip up as they beat Rishton by six wickets.

Batting first, Rishton finished on 104-9 with Luke McVarish top scoring with 25. Opening Chris Lambert and Matt Leathert were the only other two Rishton players to make double figures, both scoring 13.

Levi Wolfenden was the pick of the Church bowlers finishing with figures of 4-17.

In reply, professional Usman Tariq was the calming influence in the Church innings, top scoring with 55 before he was trapped lbw by Kelly Smuts – one of four victims for the Rishton professional.

Fourth-placed Enfield picked up 10 points as they beat Accrington 69 runs thanks to an unbeaten 103 by captain Adam Bracewell.

The captain came to the crease after opening L Bedford went for 10 runs and forged an imported partnership with G Jones who eventually went for 37.

Charlie Jackson weighed in with an important 20 runs as Enfield closed on 222-4.

In reply, Accrington professional Ockert Erasmus did his best to take the fight to Enfield, hitting an unbeaten 77 but he ran out of partners in the middle – K Grimshaw (23) and J Clarke (24) both making decent contributions as Accrington finished on 153-9.

Rawtenstall beat Haslingden by 49 runs thanks largely to an impressive knock of 66 from opener J McCluskie. He top scored for the hosts with D Barlow scoring 39 as Rawtenstall finished on 178 all out.

Ingham finished on impressive figures of 6-39 from his 14 overs.

In reply, Haslingden were bowled out for 129 with openers Graham Knowles (27) and Matthew Griffin (14) and professional de Wett, top scoring with 34 getting the visitors off to a decent start.

C Reed then added 28 but Haslingden fell short.

In the another local derby, Nelson enjoyed victory at Colne.

Batting first, L Bradley top scored for Nelson with 58 with K Nazir (15) and H Phelan (19) making contributions in Nelson’s 211-8 total.

Colne’s reduced target was 176 from 34 overs but they were bowled out for 113 – Tillotson top scoring with 34.

Ramsbottom enjoyed an hefty 140 run victory over Bacup to pick up 12 points.

Batting first, Rammy racked up 205 for three with R Rothwell, A Holt, Smit and M Cropper doing the damage.

Rothwell top scored with 55 before he was caught by Collinge off Ramshead.

Olpin went cheaply for nine but Holt hit 43 before he was bowled by Azam. Smit (56no) and Cropper (23no) saw Rammy home.

In reply, Bacup were dismissed for 65, Read claiming 5-16 over his 12 overs while professionalSmit took four wickets for 18 runs.

The match between East Lancs and Todmorden was a no result.