COLNE Cricket will be the new champions of the Thwaites East Lancashire Premier barring miracles, with a staggering whitewash over R Utility and a massive 14 points.

The gap at the top is now six points with one to play, mainly due to Bar Lane not being able to match them and only gained a 10-4 win against Colne Legion.

With Colne Cricket now forcing a home game against St Andrew's, eight points would do it and it would mean that Darwen Subs would have to be whitewashed by Bar Lane at the Two Gates ground.

The climax to the season could not have been closer and all credit to the Bolton outfit for the fight to the finish, but the runners-up spot will be their only consolation.

Bar Lane, also runners-up last season, must wonder how they have not bettered last season's performance in a helter skelter ride in the second half of the season with the Colne club, but hats off to Cricketers for finishing with some outstanding results.

Turton gained a narrow 10-4 victory over Darwen Subs, which effectively means no third spot for the Darwen club. St Andrew's whitewashed their Burnley neighbours Greenhill and gives them an outsiders chance of third, whilst Globe's narrow defeat at the hands of East Lancs 8-6 puts them in the driving seat to finish behind Bar Lane and Colne Cricket.

NW Fire Protection Merit League: G Shuttleworth 155 (avge), M Yarwood 120, A Handford 87 J Bentley 85, A Starkie 71, P Brett 82, J Mort 50, D Dryer 50, L EVans 49, B Howarth 48, D Whittle 48, A Croxhall 44, S Clamp 41, G Schofield 38, M Woodworth 37, P Wilkinson 36, B Driver 35, A Pilkington 32, N Harvey 30, C Slater 30.