ENFIELD captain David Bracewell doesn't want too many more nail-biting games this season after their nervy Lancashire League opener.

The Dill Hall Laners seemed to be cruising against last season's runners-up Bacup with the Lanehead side needing 21 off the final over chasing a rain revised 165 in 37 overs.

It was being bowled by new pro Brandon Hiini who already had four wickets under his belt on his Lancashire League debut.

But Andrew Spencer has proved a handful to Enfield in the past and, with nine wickets gone, he bravely hit two sixes and three twos to need three off the final ball.

Luckily for Enfield, who finished third last season, Spencer was run out and Bracewell's side were able to go straight to joint top of the early league with a valuable 12 points.

"It was close and we don't want too many games like that," said the captain.

"Although we will take them if we win them!

"Once we had got Chris Harris out, they didn't really trouble us but Andrew Spencer seems to always have a late rally against us. He got 40-odd last time against us in the last game of the season when we seemed to be okay.

"He just has a habit of doing it and we are just glad we managed to hold on."

Enfield had made 174-9 in their 40 overs with New Zealander Hiini top scoring with 50 and David Bracewell making 31.

Chris Harris - Hiini's captain at Canterbury - had taken five wickets with many tipping Bacup to be title contenders again with the New Zealander at the helm.

But he was bowled lbw by veteran Bernard Reidy for 48 and Bacup slipped to 129-9 and seemed out of it.

But step forward Spencer who made it a tense ending - although it was Enfield who could finally smile after the final ball.

"Bernard and Brandon did really well together," said the captain. "We wouldn't normally have Brandon bowling 18 overs on the trot but he did well.

"We had them at 90-8 and eight times out of ten the game is over but there was another twist.

"Winning the first game though breeds confidence and we were pleased for Brandon to get a half century and take four wickets.

"We know he is a good player but sometimes it can take three or four games for the pro to get into it, but he has started well and that will ease the pressure on him a little bit."

However it will be only a bit as Enfield face a tough double header weekend against Haslingden tomorrow and then a local derby with Rishton on Sunday.

And they know they have to beware Rishton's pro Saeed Anwar Junior who scored 95 in their opening day victory over Rawtenstall.

"We have come across him when he played in the Central Lancashire League and he has done us a couple of times so we will have to be careful," said Bracewell.

"And Haslingden will be on a high after beating champions Burnley in their opening game so it promises to be a tough weekend."

Rishton will have high hopes of carrying on their good start against Ramsbottom and Enfield this weekend after victory on Sunday.

Rawtenstall were 186 all out with Garth Wyse doing the damage with the ball.

Rawtenstall had seemed in control at 127 without loss but then it all fell apart as Wyse got to work ending up with 6-74 while pro Anwar grabbed four wickets.

The Pakinstan paid manthen turned on the style with the bat with six sixes and eight boundaries in his 95.

Opener John Cordingley made an unbeaten 74 as they helped themselves to an eight wicket win.

Elsewhere Church will be hoping for their first win when they take on Nelson and Haslingden this weekend.

Injuries to bowlers Nick Westwell and Sam Holt hindered them on Sunday and, despite 4-82 by Andrew Bentley, 2005 champions Lowerhouse made 190-5.

Alec Holt celebrated a half century and Nasser Hussain (36 not out) mounted a late charge but they fell 28 runs short of their 186 revised target.

And Accrington face Colne and East Lancs in the double header as they look to get off the mark.

They struggled without delayed pro Nishit Shetty and Ramsbottom's 217 was too much to chase. There wass, though, a three wicket debut for young bowler Toby Bulcock.

Teenager Bulcock also top scored with 28 as Accrington finished 132 runs short.