GRAHAM Knowles and Steve Dearden hit form to fire Haslingden to a fourth win on the spin as they brushed aside Bacup at Bentgate.

The leading amateurs were the big difference in the Rossendale derby with Dearden claiming five wic-kets and skipper Knowles 4-15 as Bacup were rolled over for 161.

Knowles then clattered a boundary-laden 60 and professional Phil Hayes made 48 as Haslingden, last year’s runners-up, got home inside 29 overs.

Bacup innings

PAP Gallagher c Imtiaz b Neary 22
A Taylor c Marcroft b Dearden 20
Smith b Dearden 22
TM Farragher c Marcroft b Dearden 2
M Thompson c Sudworth b Dearden 18
A Spencer c Marcroft b Dearden 14
A Highley lbw b Knowles 4
A Fielding lbw b Knowles 16
H Butcher lbw b Knowles 6
B Lord lbw b Knowles 7
D Warren not out 1
Extras 29
Total (10 wickets) 161
Dearden 19 4 71 5, Neary 6 1 26 1, Read 12 1 37 0, Knowles 5.5 0 15 4, Sudworth 3 1 5 0.

Haslingden innings

GA Knowles c T’pson b Spencer 60
Hayes c Smith b Highley 48
CP Read not out 33
LG Ingham b Spencer 4
J Taylor not out 2
Extras 18
Total (3 wickets) 165
Spencer 9 0 51 2, Lord 4 0 16 0, Smith 9 0 41 0, Warren 2 0 13 0, Highley 3 1 25 1, Butcher 1.1 0 10 0.

Haslingden won by 7 wickets. Haslingden 12, Bacup 0