SCHOOLBOY Craig Fergusson was the toast of Church after a remarkable victory over Lancashire League championship favourites East Lancs.

The 15-year-old rookie top scored with a brave 39 to see Church home to an unlikely win at Blackburn Road.

Church faced a reduced target of 148 in 41 overs in reply to East Lancs' 166-8. And when they collapsed to a miserable 1-4 with Alec Holt, Trevor Hatch, Mark Aspin, and Dave Catlow all back in the pavilion, victory appeared a forlorn hope for Church.

But then Fergusson arrived at the crease to steady the ship with professional Brendan Creevey clocking 23 and number nine Andy Aspin posting 32 not out.

Church, though, still needed 27 off the last three overs and it was left to ken Fergusson, father of the Church hero, to hit the winning runs with a wicket to spare.

"It was an amazing result considering we were 4-1 and then 18-5," said proud skipper Phil Sykes.

"Craig is only 15 but he played a really mature innings. He gave us the platform for victory which had certainly seemed very unlikely an hour before.

"Beating East Lancs is a big scalp for and it will make one or two people sit up and take notice."

Todmorden turned in a miserable batting display at Lowerhouse, collapsing to 74 all out.

Accurate medium-pacer Jez Hope picked up six wickets while professional Corrie Jordaan returned a super 3-15 from an economical18 over spell, which included 10 maidens. Todmorden's only resistance was opener Richard Baigant with a punchy 38. A short rain delay left Lowerhouse with a reduced total and they sailed home with eight wickets to spare.

Improving Accrington collected four valuable points at Bacup in a rain-affected fixture at Lanehead.

In-form James Peterson was the bed rock of Bacup's 169-7 as the Australian posted another impressive score. His unbeaten 85 included six fours and three sixes.

Peterson held Bacup's innings together with only Peter Thompson's 38 providing the only major contribution.

Because of the rain interruption, Accrington were faced with a reduced target of 132 from 28 overs.

That left Kiwi Nathan Astle to blast a match-winning path for Accrington with a swashbuckling 81, arriving of just 77 balls, and a knock which included 11 fours and two mighty sixes as Accrington made it home with six wickets to spare.

There was a shock win for Rawtenstall over Enfield after their attack combined to roll over a strong-looking batting line-up for a paltry 78 at Dill Hall Lane.

Professional Ian Hewett, Richard Glover and Keith Roscoe collected three wickets apiece, with the wily Roscoe giving away just five runs as he mopped up the Enfield tail to collect the bonus point. Hewett then weighed in with an unbeaten 29 and, though Rawtenstall were crusing home anyway, their task was made even easier as the target was reduced to 71 by rain.

A disappointing day all round for Enfield's Shane Lee, who was outshone by his fellow-Aussie Hewett.

Colne professional Ben Johnson turned up trumps against Ramsbottom, sending out a warning to the rest of the league that the record-breaker is back in business.

Johnson the bowler struck first with 5-54, as Ramsbottom were dismissed for a modest 127. Kevin Cullen contributed a valuable 3-18 from nine overs but it was Nick Moulding who took the all-improtant wicket of professional Chris Harris for a duck.

Rain helped Colne when an interruption reduced their victory target to 100 after they looked as though they might be in trouble at 12 for three. But Johnson stayed in control and steered them to an excellent victory with an unbeaten 64.

Harris had four wickets but, once Johnson was into his stride, there was only going to be one winner.

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