RAIN was only the winner at the weekend as there were no results in any of the three divisions - but Division 1 leaders St Annes became the new champions after rain stopped the Morecambe v Chorley match on Monday.

Preston were robbed of the opportunity of a possible third victory of the season at West Cliff.

Visitors Blackpool were put in to bat by Preston captain Graham Standering and they had struggled to 107 for 6 off 43.2 overs when rain brought a premature end to the game.

This meant that both sides collected two points each.

Apart from Martin Pickles with 35, the other Blackpool batsmen struggled against the Preston bowlers on a lively wicket.

Preston professional Manoj Parekh again bowled very impressively to take 2 for 50 off 22 consecutive overs, ably supported by Paul Richardson with 2 for 47 off 12.2 overs.

However, the best bowling figures belonged to Roger Kaye with 2 for 9 off 9 overs, six of which were maidens.

At one stage Blackpool were 78 for 6 but an unbroken seventh wicket partnership of 28 between Paul Danson and

Gavin Wiggans, both 15 not out, eased Blackpool's plight.

With two games remaining it looks likely that Leyland will finish bottom of the table because they are now 13 points behind Preston.

Leyland's had reached 131 for 6 off 46.3 overs when play was abandoned at Fox Lane. Professional Paul Tebay top scored with 47.

Leyland DAF appeared to have been saved by the rain from defeat at Lancaster. Batting first, DAF were dismissed for 97, with Lancaster's David Jolleys taking 5 for 14.

Stuart Catterall, Steven Knox, David Makinson and Alan Richardson all got into their teens.

Lancaster were 36 without loss, with David Heywood 26 not out and Phil Dennison 3 not out when the match was finally abandoned.

League champions St Annes saw their professional Eldine Baptiste create a new bowling record for a professional with 72 wickets.

The previous record of 71 victims was jointly held by Roy Garlick in 1958 and Roy Digman in 1960.

On Friday Chorley will be at Lords looking for a hat-trick of wins in their Abbot Ale National Cricket Association Competition Final match against Walsall.

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