THE respite from the rigours of league cricket brought disaster for our three local clubs in the first round of the Vaux Bitter Cup on July 19.

Preston were easily beaten by Lancaster at West Cliff by 105 runs. This was a game which glowed so brightly for Preston but gradually turned to gloom on a beautiful summer's day.

Preston captain Graham Standring lost the toss but it didn't appear to have mattered when Lancaster's first wicket fell at five as opener Paul Taylor was caught behind by Greg Bamber off Roger Kaye for two.

Lancaster were restricted to 23-1 off the first 16 overs.

Preston's leg-spinning professional Manoj Parekh conceded only five runs from eight consecutive overs, three of which were maidens.

Opening bowling partner Roger Kaye bowled his eight permitted overs for only 15 runs.

However, after the opening bowlers were replaced, South African pro Mark Boucher and Phil Dennison added 162 runs for the second wicket before Lancaster closed on 195-2 with Dennison carrying his bat for 87.

Preston lost their first wicket at 17 when Anthony Mann fell for four, Nick Holt went for 10, Lee Kearsley went for six; Standring also went for six as half the side fell for 76.

Jon Fleetwood battled hard for his 39 but Preston lost their last five wickets for 12 runs.

Leyland's interest in the cup disappeared when they were beaten at Fox Lane by Chorley by nine wickets. A weakened side, minus Neil Kenyon and Steven Pallett who were injured on a cricket tour, always struggled against the Chorley bowling attack.

Leyland's opening bats Craig Gardner and Chris Sim put on 25 runs for the first wicket before Sim went for 13. Then captain Paul Tebay was trapped lbw without scoring.

Only eight more runs were added before Mark Pallett was caught by Russell Cake for six. The fourth wicket fell at 43 when Gardner fell for 16.

Lee Heyes 19 and David Tomlinson 8 featured in a 23-run partnership and Leyland were struggling at 67 for 7 when Mark Swann was caught and bowled without troubling the scorers.

Ian Oakes was lbw for four but the tail wagged when Nic Gore 26 and Paul Haydock 11 added 33 runs for the ninth wicket. It was all over at 111.

Chorley knocked off the required runs for victory in the 27th over. Paul Tebay used six different bowlers but to no avail, with himself picking up the only wicket to fall.

Leyland Daf were beaten at Woodhill Lane by nine wickets against Morecambe.

Batting first, Daf saw half their side dismissed for 66, Tony Moore making 13, Stuart Catterall 11. Nathan Braithwaite and Makinson added 17 runs for the seventh wicket before Braithwaite fell for 10 and Leyland themselves eventually fell for 114 in 38.5 overs when last man Sifton Prince was bowled without scoring.

Morecambe professional Steven Pope was the pick of the home side's bowling attack, taking 5-27 from 7.5 overs.

Morecambe raced to victory in the 21st over, despite losing opener Graham Fisher caught by Stuart Catterall off his brother Duncan for five.

Steven Pope was MoM with an undefeated 82 off 59 deliveries, his innings including two sixes and 11 fours.

Next week brings a return to the league programme. Bottom club Preston are involved in a derby with Leyland Daf while Leyland have a home game at Fox Lane against Blackpool.

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