CRUSADERS A from Blackburn appear firm favourites to land this year's East Lancashire title.

However, they were held to a 2-2 draw by Hawks A (Burnley) which followed a recent 3-2 defeat of Burnley.

Hawks' Chris Flynn is playing his best chess ever since his return from university. PC Jim Hollingworth is also playing well after a long visit to the Far East.

Hawks B are struggling in Division Two although they have won both their cup matches to reach the semi-finals.

Results - Lucas Shield team knockout: Clitheroe A 1.5, Gt Harwood A 3.5; Hawks A 1.0, Rawtenstall A 4.0; Burnley 3.5, Nelson A 1.5; Blackburn A 2.0, Crusaders A 3.0.

Semi-final draw: Rawtenstall A v Burnley (Tuesday March 9); Crusaders A v Gt Harwood A (Wednesday February 24). Subsidiary team knockout: Gt Harwood C 2.0, Hawks B 3.0; Stonyhurst College 2.0, Gt Harwood B 3.0; Rawtenstall B 1.5, Nelson B 3.5; Blackburn B 3.5, Crusaders B 1.5.

Semi-final draw: Nelson B v Hawks B (Thursday, March 18); Blackburn B v Gt Harwood B (Friday, March 19).

League - Division One: Rawtenstall A 2.5, Nelson A 2.5; Gt Harwood B 1.5, Hawks A 3.5; Hawks A 2.5, Crusaders A 2.5; Crusaders A 3.0, Burnley 2.0.

Division Two: Rawtenstall B 2.5, Rawtenstall C 2.5; Nelson B 0.5, Clitheroe A 4.5; Blackburn A 4.5, Crusaders B 0.5.

Division Three: Nelson C 2.0, Gt Harwood C 3.0; Gt Harwood C 2.5, Stonyhurst College 2.5; Gt Harwood D 1.0, Stonyhurst College 4.0; Crusaders C 2.0, Rawtenstall D 3.0; Blackburn B 5.0, Clitheroe B 0.0; Crusaders C 1.5, Gt Harwood D 3.5.

Hamilton Cup individual knockout - round one: S Horrocks (Gt Harwood) 1, J Belbin (Nelson) 0. Round two: J Blore (Stonyhurst College) 1, A Clarkson (Hawks) 0; J Schofield (Crusaders) 0, A Dickinson (Gt Harwood) 1.

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