GREAT HARWOOD lost a little more ground on Ribblesdale League leaders Clitheroe. But once again there was little they could do after winning their own game on Saturday and having another day off on Sunday while the table-toppers chalked up double-header wins.

Elsewhere, there were back-to-back wins for OSWALDTWISTLE IMMANUEL as they edged a Sunday derby thriller to allay their relegation fears and complete a miserable Bank Holiday weekend for BAXENDEN.

Harwood comfortably beat neighbours Whalley on Saturday, restricting the Station Road men to 159/5 before passing the target for the loss of only two wickets.

Harwood certainly got their money’s worth out of overseas man Syed Shahabuddin, who smashed 70 not out to follow an unbroken 23-over spell which brought him 3-73. Charles Fernando accompanied Shahabuddin home with an unbeaten 50.

Immanuel posted 152/7 at home to Barnoldswick, Oliver Jones top-scoring with 40.

The visitors looked well positioned at 74/2 but overseas amateur Harry Allanby (3-44) and teenage off-spinning prospect Niall Heyes (4-28) were outstanding as they collapsed to 117 all out.

Young Heyes was even more effective when Baxenden batted first at New Lane in Sunday’s derby, claiming 7-35 as the Back Lane men were dismissed for 114, with only pro Mohammad Asif Iqbal (50) making a significant contribution.

But on a weekend of collapses, Baxenden, who had been 71/3 before folding to Heyes, had Immanuel in all sorts of trouble despite 36 for Oliver Clare and 27 for Allanby.

Number 10 Mark Groom kept his head, however, and saw Oswaldtwistle over the line with just a single wicket to spare as Gary Sudworth finished on the losing side despite collecting 6-41.

Baxenden had been bowled out cheaply on Saturday too, 107 all out after reaching 77/3 at Settle.

Kurt Smithson top-scored with 27 before Settle cantered to a five-wicket win with bags of overs to spare.