TITLE-CHASING Ramsbottom stayed top of the Transco Lancashire League thanks in no small part to Tommy Read's first ever senior wickets.

The seamer, whose only previous bowl for the first team had come in a Worsley Cup defeat earlier this season, took three wickets in one over as Rawtenstall collapsed to 108 all out.

Thanks to Glen Barlow's 32, Rawtenstall had reached 89-5 but then lost four wickets without adding a run.

Simon Read also chipped in with three wickets and the namesakes then played pivotal roles with the bat as Ramsbottom edged home by two wickets to claim maximum points.

Tommy helped Neil Richardson put on a vital 38 for the first wicket and then when the home side slipped to 82-6, Simon weighed in with 19 to help the leaders get over the line.

Bacup kept up the pressure on table toppers Ramsbottom but only after a tight one wicket victory over Haslingden at Lane Head.

The home side must have thought they were cruising after professional Adam Dale once again starred with the bowl taking 6-22, a miserly four runs per wicket, to restrict Haslingden to just 82.

David Ormerod chipped in with 4-58 as Haslingden struggled with the bat, Mike Ingham top scoring with 21.

But Haslingden's bowling proved as equally destructive, Ian Cameron, pro Paul Strang and Stuart Taylor taking three wicket's apiece.

The game could have gone either way but, in a tense finale, with just one wicker remaining, Neil Wilkinson hit the winning run to secure Bacup maximum points.

East Lancs are also hot on the heels of the leading pair after an amazing six Burnley wickets fell without addition to the score.

Chasing 157, the home side were in a good position at 73-3 when professional Geoff Foley was out for 38, brilliantly run out by Andy Clague after an aggressive innings containing six fours. Then Ian Haworth took three wickets in his seventh over, with East Lancs pro Claude Henderson also weighing in with 5-39.

Earlier, East Lancs built on a solid start from Clague and Phil Bolton, who put on a 50 partnership for the second consecutive week, albeit in 23 overs on a difficult wicket for batting.

Foley had resorted to medium pace and took the first four wickets before conceding runs more freely in the later stages of the East Lancs innings.

Colne conceded a staggering 52 extras but still managed to secure a two-wicket win at Enfield to keep their championship hopes alive.

The extras, made up of 23 leg-byes, 25 wides and four no-balls, were comfortably Enfield's top score in a total of 132.

And the home side would have been in dire straits but for those runs and a 51-run last-wicket partnership between Adam Jarrett (24 not out) and Dave Bracewell (16).

Colne were then struggling themselves at 58-5 before Stephen Wood and Richard Murgatroyd added a vital 51 to get the victory push back on course.

Nelson maintained their interest in retaining the title with a crushing 10-wicket win over Accrington.

Martin Heap set up the maximum points win with a devastating new-ball burst.

He claimed 6-17, including the important wicket of professional Nathan Astle, as the visitors were shot out for just 75.

Skipper Duncan Spencer and professional Keith Arthurton then knocked off the required runs with the minimum of fuss, each hitting four boundaries as Nelson wrapped up victorty inside 24 overs.

Church also kept up their bid for a top spot finish with a 30 run victory over fellow title chasers Todmorden at Centre Vale.

Opener Alex Holt was the mainstay of their innings with 64 before becoming one of Alexander Scholefield's three victims.

Todmorden's professional Dan Marsh also chipped in with 5-69 to dismiss Church for 161.

But Church's Lancashire professional Mike Watkinson wasn't going to be outdone and he restricted the reply with 4-56.

Neil Westwell finished with figures of 3-27 as Todmorden struggled with the bat, Marsh top scoring with just 38.

Lowerhouse professional Martin Van Jaarsveld claimed five wickets as Rishton slumped to a 13-run defeat at Blackburn Road.

Having restricted Lowerhouse to 128-9, the home side had every chance at 90-4.

But they then lost anchorman John Wharton and saw their last six wickets go for just 25 runs.

Earlier Neil Wells had taken his second collection in as many games for his return of 5-57, which should help the cost of the back-packing trip to Australia which has now curtailed his season.

And substitute professional Gary Yates collected four wickets as only Chris Bleazard (38) got going for the visitors.