Accrington were the most successful of the local sides last weekend, gaining maximum points from both matches to do a direct swap in the table with this Sunday’s opponents Enfield, moving from eleventh to eighth spot.
Will Driver made a happy return to Liverpool Road on Saturday, following up his maiden Lancashire League century with 6-66 to give the champions their first win in a month.
The 21 year-old hit eleven boundaries from 130 balls in making 103 in Accrington’s 226-6. Graham Lloyd also made 43 and Stuart Crabtree a season's best unbeaten 23.
Paul Carroll also came good with the ball, taking 4-56 as he and Driver shared the wickets with the help of some fine catches from Simon Hanson, Waqas Ahmed and Jimmy Hayhurst to give Accrington maximum points and an 18 run win.
On Sunday it was skipper David Ormerod’s turn to be the match winner as Accrington bowled Rawtenstall out for 137. The veteran was in seventh heaven after taking a season's best 7-70 in his side's six wicket win at Thorneyholme Road.
Driver continued his fine form of the weekend with a knock of 65. He hit thirteen boundaries and became the first player to pass 500 runs this season.
Church had a mixed weekend, dropping down from fifth to seventh place with Saturday’s home defeat by Todmorden sandwiched between Thursday’s success at Accrington and a convincing win over Lowerhouse on Sunday.
Church were on the end of a scorching all round performance by Todmorden professional David Wiese on Saturday.
The South African smashed a century and followed up by taking five wickets in the Centre Vale sides 50-run win as Church were bowled out for 189.
A strange game at West End the following day saw Andy Bentley’s men stroll to a 72-run win over a young Lowerhouse side.
The home side made 216-9 with solid knocks from former Accrington trio Nasser Hussain, Adam Greenwood and Sagawat Hussain.
The Lowerhouse reply never got into gear, ending on 144-7. Church skipper Bentley bowled a miserly spell of 3-44 from 21 overs, including 7 maidens.
Church were without Levi Wolfenden who was called up by Lancashire Colts to play in their Northern League side against Barrow.
It’s all change this week at Enfield with skipper David Bracewell stepping down after five seasons in charge. Professional Adam Bracewell faces a spell on the sidelines after picking up a groin strain at Haslingden.
Enfield’s two defeats dropped them down three places in the league table. On Saturday against Burnley at Dill Hall Lane, Enfield opener Aneeq Hassan top scored with 33.
Enfield’s score of 108 was passed for the loss of one wicket as Qasim Ali helped himself to an unbeaten 61.
Enfield made a better fist of it on Sunday but still met with defeat at the hands of title chasing Haslingden at Bentgate.
Sub professional Paul Green top scored with 97 in the home side’s 87-run win as Haslingden made 262-7 and Enfield were bowled out for 175.
Rishton also tasted defeat on both days and languish at the foot of the table above Colne with just one win all season.
Andrea Agathagelou hit his second successive half century but his side went down to a 30 run defeat at Nelson on Saturday, posting 186 after Nelson had made 216-7.
On Sunday Rishton ran into an in-form Burnley side at Turf Moor but gave a good account of themselves before going down to a 10-run defeat.
Tiarnan Hamill claimed five Burnley wickets and hit 53 as his side chased Burnley’s 197-8.
Having been 23-3, Hamill and Agathagelou put on 54 for the fourth wicket but although Sam Hacking’s rapid 37 gave Rishton a chance, they fell short.
