DARWEN enjoyed two comprehensive victories during the weekend. On Saturday they tightened their grip on the Northern Premier League when they took 15 points from a 122 run win over Fleetwood.

Darwen were put into bat and after losing two quick wickets, Lowe and Gareth Cordingley added 43 before Lowe fell for 25 in the 26th over with the score on 70. Grant (25) joined Cordingley (48) and the pair put on 59 before Darwen suddenly faced a crisis as three wickets fell with the score on 129 and a fourth at 132.

Hacking and John Cordingley took the score to 168 before Hacking fell for 20. The young Cordingley then set the ground alight as he scored 50 from just 53 balls including four fours and three sixes before he was last man out with the total on 211.

The Fleetwood innings wilted in the sun as Mercer and Semple ripped out the heart of the batting. Having moved to 18 without loss, Fleetwood suddenly found themselves on 50-9 as Mercer claimed six wickets and Semple three. Mercer sustained an incredibly accurate spell having two batsmen trapped lbw and bowling a further three.

The final pair of Hill (25) and Jones (15) took the score to 89 before Gareth Cordingley wrapped up affairs in his first over.

On Sunday Darwen took on Leyland in the League Cup and chose to bat.

Opening batsman Hadfield (32) and Lowe (29) got the innings off to the best possible start adding 59 for the first wicket from just 10 overs. Significant contributions to the Darwen total of 217 came from Semple (34), Gareth Cordingley (21) and John Cordingley (35) as Darwen posted their highest score in this competition this season.

Once again a steady start by the opposition came to nothing as Leyland fell away from 25 without loss to 59-3 and then 118-8 as Mercer (2), Garish Cordingley (1) and captain Jeff Hacking (2) all chipped in with wickets and Chris Lowe, deputising behind the stumps, rounded off a fine weekend by claiming three victims. However, it was Horsfield who stole the show as he picked up three quick wickets for just 36 runs in 8.1 overs to finish off the game.

Late resistance from Walsh who hit 17 and Hatton (6) saw the Leyland total limp to 144 before Horsfield claimed his final wicket.

Next Saturday sees Darwen take on second placed Morecambe at Birch Hall in what promises to be the match of the season.

Darwen Second also secured an impressive win in the Cup, beating Leyland by 57 runs with Craig Chatterton the hero hitting an undefeated 61.