JOE Scuderi was the name on everyone's lips at The Horsfield on Saturday.

But despite his valiant efforts, Colne couldn't stop arch-rivals Nelson from taking another giant step towards their second consecutive Lancashire League title.

There are few better sights in Lancashire League cricket than watching Scuderi in full flight.

And the South Australian all-rounder hit another classy half century to underline why Lancashire are so keen to take him to Old Trafford next season.

But when he needed support off the rest of his team-mates, he was suddenly left isolated.

And Nelson didn't need a second invitation to take full advantage.

"I'm very disappointed," said Scuderi.

"We started the game really well but then we collapsed in a heap.

"The target I had in my mind at the halfway stage was 180 or 190.

"But then we lost something like four for 12 and that was it.

"I just tried to hold things together so we had some kind of target.

"But there was some poor shot selection and some bad batting generally.

"And you can't expect to win a game if you only make 124."

The home side made the worst possible start losing opener David Swarbrick to only the fifth ball of the innings thanks to a stunning catch by Marcus Phelan. But a third wicket stand between Scuderi and Matt Wilson (25) put Gary Laycock's men back in the driving seat.

At the drinks interval, they were 87-2 and dreaming of a target around the 200 mark.

But in the next over Roger Harper removed Wilson (25) and Andy Leah (0) in consecutive deliveries and Colne were suddenly on the slide.

Scuderi watched in horror as a procession of partners came and went as Harper (4-53) and Danny Kegg (4-25) piled on the agony.

And after stroking several delightful boundaries in his 89-ball 67, Scuderi eventually had to settle for denying Nelson two bonus points in the closing overs as the home side lerched to 124-9 at the close.

That target was never going to pose the visitors any problems once openers Duncan Spencer and Chris Walton took the sting out of the home attack.

They put on 29 for the first wicket before Andy Roberts finally struck.

Harper then survived a firey spell from Scuderi before Roberts removed Spencer (20).

But that didn't knock the West Indian out of his stride and he played some majestic strokes in a stylish 47.

And it was left to Mike Bradley and Marcus Phelan to see them across the finish line with six wickets to spare.

Scuderi was pleased with the way his side fought back, though.

"We didn't have a lot of luck. "I thought we might have had Roger Harper out bat-pad at one stage but the umpire didn't give it.

"But we made them fight.

"That's one thing about Colne. We never give up on a game.

"Although we were defending a low total we didn't give the game to Nelson."

So after facing both East Lancs and Nelson in the last couple of weeks, where does Scuderi think the title will end up?

"It's going to go down to the wire, probably to the last game.

"The game between those two next week is going to be a crunch one.

"But then they're all crunch games.

"I'm pretty disappointed at the way Nelson play sometimes, though.

"It staggered me that when we were nine down and there were five overs still left they still had four fielders on the boundary.

"If they'd brought the field up it might have encouraged a batsman to have a dip and lose his wicket.

"I think they've done that a couple of times this season and it's probably cost them six or eight points.

"That could tip the balance between the two at the end of the season."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.