CHURCH celebrated a double win weekend which which has boosted their bid for a top five Lancashire League spot.

They saw off bottom club Colne on Saturday with Sam Holt top scoring with 43.

Andy Bentley is proving a star with the ball this season as he took five wickets in the 46-run win - including a first ever hat-trick.

And Bentley added to his tally against local rivals Rishton on Sunday in a high-scoring encounter.

Church made 249 with pro Niel Bredenkamp finding his form with 71; Alec Holt top scoring with 76 and Adam Greenwood making 49.

Rishton got to work in reply with pro Saeed Anwar Junior closing in on 1000 league runs thanks to him blasting 107.

He now has 943 runs for the season and is eyeing Peter Sleep’s club professional record of 1621 runs, set in 1991.

But the Pakistani paid man finished on the losing side with Bentley taking six wickets, making his tally 42 for the season - well on the way to overtaking his season’s best of 52 from last year.

Church face bottom club Colne again tomorrow followed by a trip to Ramsbottom, whose professional Shane Harwood is injured.

Rishton are up against Bacup and then have a local derby at home to leaders Accrington.

It was win one, lose one for Enfield as they look to make an impact in the top half of the table.

They did Accrington a favour by overcoming title challengers Nelson on Saturday.

Craig Fergusson top scored with 43 while it was a five wicket haul from new pro Gary Brent.

Brent then turned on the style with the bat the following day against Accrington and ran the league leaders close.

Accrington’s 199 looked safe especially with an early flurry of wickets. But the Zimbabwean made an unbeaten 63 to fall just 20 runs short in a nervous finish.

Enfield travel to Nelson tomorrow before a clash with East Lancs on Sunday.

Accrington are at home to Worsley Cup final opponents Todmorden tomorrow.