PRESTWICH created a piece of history when they were crowned league champions on Saturday for the first time in 97 years.

W.G. Grace was still alive the last time Prestwich had savoured league success -- winning the South Lancashire League in 1907.

Befitting a season full of thrills and spills, there was one last amazing twist as the Heys team lifted the Lancashire County League title for the first time ever.

The league, which was formed in 1910 when named the Lancashire and Cheshire League, will rarely have witnessed such a final day of fluctuating fortunes, with a three-way battle for glory.

Prestwich have had more cliffhangers this season than the most accident-prone rock climber -- they have lost six games in the second half of the season either in the last over, or by a mere handful of runs.

But this time, there was a twist of irony few could predict.

The long-time leaders had not suffered an abandoned game all season due to the weather, and the names of Bill

Giles and John Kettley may not have been on the Prestwich team sheet as a 12th man, but their forecast of rain ultimately proved correct, to Prestwich's relief and delight.

While Prestwich's nearest challengers, Denton St Lawrence, were fighting a losing battle against Woodhouses, that was nothing compared to Prestwich's predicament at home to the other title hopefuls, Dukinfield.

The Heys side, leaders since the fifth game of the season, were staring defeat in the face at 51-8, in vain pursuit of a target of 178, and Dukinfield's name was almost being pencilled in on the league's roll of honour.

But a dogged stand from Steven Lorenzini and John Walters kept Dukinfield at bay until the rain arrived to wash out the rest of the game.

Two points per side was enough to retain Prestwich's one-point lead and secure the long-awaited championship.

The tension was high from the first ball of the day after Prestwich skipper Steve Orrell had won the vital toss and elected to field, in the knowledge that by simply surpassing the Dukinfield target, they would earn the four points needed to secure the title.

Despite a dearth of wickets, Prestwich bowled and fielded like Trojans, Paul Mercer running from boundary edge to boundary edge, and Alex Blake swooping in like a voracious vulture, epitomising the eagerness.

The top order line-up of Akram (25), Mayne (35), Harwick (20), Turner (31) Gandy (29 not out) and Eastwood (17) proved difficult to shift, yet it was not until the 41st over of the 50-over innings that the run rate peered above three-an-over.

Chris Humphreys took his season's tally to 84 with an other gutsy spell of sustained bowling, taking 3 for 80 from 25 overs.

His opening bursts in tandem with Andy Bradley, who notched up 51 wickets for the season, have proved one of the key factors in the season's success.

Pro Craig Duxbury found the pitch to his liking, and bowled a fine restrictive spell, claiming the other two wickets to fall.

His figures were slightly dented in the expected late onslaught, but Prestwich were happy to restrict Dukinfield to a total of 178 for the loss of only five wickets.

Having got to 10 without trouble, Prestwich's surge for victory was dealt a double blow.

In successive balls, Duxbury fell l.b.w. to Cheetham for a duck, and Orrell was caught by wicketkeeper Ashworth for 4.

A lot rested on the ultra consistent Ian Walker, but even he could not work his usual wonders, caught at square leg by Collins for a rare zero.

Youngsters Mike Hudson (16) and David Fitzmaurice (13) reached the teens in confident fashion, but when they fell in quick succession, and Mercer and Humphreys failed to trouble the scorers, the Prestwich dressing room was looking a solemn place.

Bradley played a restrained role, but fell to a slip catch by Rexstraw and Prestwich were in peril at 51 for 8.

Despite a couple of short breaks for rain, Dukinfield looked to have the time and the poise to prise out Prestwich's last two wickets.

But Lorenzini, having gone to the crease off the back of three ducks, showed the desired gritty determination, together with Walters, so nearly the previous week's hero, and they remained unbudged for 12 overs, taking the score to 76.

Dark clouds gathered above as a tense-looking Prestwich skipper paced up and down the pavilion walkway -- or was that just some poor attempt at a rain dance?

The light was dimming, the rain was starting, as a voice from the amassed watching ensemble shouted: "Is there anybody out there?"

The umpires consulted as the rain got heavier, and the players left the field with 10 overs remaining.

It was to be the umpires' final act, which also marked the retirement of long serving official Tony Needham.

At 7.20pm, opposing captain Harwick shook hands with Orrell and the draw gave Prestwich the title, sparking a huge celebration and chants of "We Are The champions" well into the night which could have been heard over the other side of Bury.