FORMED in 1848 it is Leyland Cricket Club's 150th anniversary and a poster inside the pavilion advised patrons that the Hoghton Weavers would shortly be appearing in concert for one of their celebratory events.

On Saturday (Aug 22) at Fox Lane it would have been more appropriate for Marty Pellow and his Wet, Wet, Wet band to have been appearing because on a ground turned into a veritable quagmire by the early morning downpour that was the only entertainment that the spectators were likely to see.

The Vaux Northern League Division One game against Blackpool was belatedly abandoned at 4pm by which time, despite a hot sun and a stiff breeze, the ground was just as much awash as it had been three hours earlier.

Blackpool's only consolation was that the four points gained for the abandonment ensured that they could not finish bottom of the table providing that Preston did not win at home to Kendal.

The call-off at Leyland allowed a visit to neighbouring Preston where the game had started at 3pm.

And on a spiteful pitch Preston managed a very creditable 117 all out in their adjusted number of 40 overs, a total which Kendal captain Richard Ellwood thought should have been closer to 80 for his team to have a chance.

He proved to be a good judge as Kendal very nearly gave Preston their first win of the season by slumping to 92-8 when the overs ran out; leg spinner Atul Sachdeva was the Preston star with 5-27.

Preston gained five points, thus saving Blackpool from the possibility of a bottom place finish; they are 69 points ahead of Preston with a maximum 60 points left to play for. But Blackpool could yet play a significant part in the decision of the championship.

Chorley, despite a loss at Netherfield, clung on to top spot by the slender margin of two points.

Their victors Netherfield are second on 134 points and Leyland Daf, the surprise team of the season who lost at St Annes, are on 133 points.

Blackpool play Netherfield at home on Saturday (Aug 29) and Leyland Daf at home the following Saturday, so there will be plenty to play for at Stanley Park over the next two weeks - weather permitting!

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