BLACKPOOL were well poised in their Bay 96.9 Northern Premier League clash against Darwen at Stanley Park on Saturday (June 4).

Darwen had been reduced to a measly 60-6 when the rain that had been threatening for the two hour duration of the innings came down with a vengeance.

It was not long before the ground was awash and visiting ducks were the only things finding the outfield to their liking.

Having won the toss Blackpool put Darwen into bat and, on a pitch that was both variable in bounce and pace, they took full advantage of the conditions.

Michael Horsfield and Mike Hadfield had great difficulty in getting the ball off the square against some accurate and testing bowling from Marcus Sharp and Rudra Singh.

So it was inevitable a wicket would fall and, with the score on only ten, Singh had Mercer, not going fully through with his shot, easily caught by Steve Mercer at mid-wicket for three.

West Indian professional Keith Semple came to the crease, announced his arrival with a glorious cover drive off Singh, and promptly fell to a deceptive ball from Sharp which Semple played onto his own wicket courtesy of an inside edge.

Semple went for five and Darwen were struggling on 15-2. But they were to struggle further when Gareth Cordingley, two, pulled a short ball from Singh straight into Darren Walton's hands at deep backward square leg to make it 18-3.

Almost immediately after, with the score on 21, Horsfield, having battled hard for his eight, was caught at slip by Lomas off Singh.

Neil Cordingley and Graham Parkinson redressed the balance slightly and added 21 in 28 minutes before the latter was trapped lbw to Walton for 13, many off which came off the edge.

Cordingley dutifully followed him into the pavilion one run later when a diving Martin Hackett caught him off Walton for eight -- Darwen at this point reduced to 43-6.

Skipper Jeff Hackett and Mark Bennett fought hard to right the innings and, when the rain became too severe to remain on the field, were undefeated on six and ten respectively.

Darwen made 60-6 from 39 overs.

Singh returned 3-21, Walton 2-7 and Sharp 1-19 as Blackpool rued the arrival of the rain.

Darwen, on the other hand, at least felt things had evened out from last weekend when they were in sight of victory over St Annes when rain intervened.