Leyland leapfrogged above Preston in the Northern Premier League table after a hard fought 13 run victory at Darwen.

The win was all the more impressive as Darwen is not the most hospitable of venues for even the more accomplished sides in the league, and Leyland, despite their marked improvement this season, are still vulnerable against the top sides.

Leyland batted first and openers Alex Mercer and Chris Parkinson got them off to a steady start scoring 31 and 24 respectively.

Professional Adam Parker, batting number three on his return from a lengthy time out with injury scored 23. Leyland's batting then had a slump as Andy Mercer ripped through the middle order taking six wickets for 30 runs off 17 overs.

But a defiant 28 not out from Brian Tennant batting at nine helped them to a total of 150 for 9 at the end of their overs.

Darwen must have felt that in the light of Leyland's recent history 150 was an easily achievable target, but that man Tennant had not finished his day's work.

He was well supported by Stephen Pallett and James Wright as the home side were bowled out for 137 to give Leyland victory by 13 runs.

Tennant returned figures of five wickets for 37 while Pallett and Wright each took two wickets. Parker took the last wicket.

Preston must have fancied themselves winning at Chorley after they restricted the home side to a score of 135 thanks to an impressive opening spell from pace bowler Andrew Miller who claimed three victims. Ventura dismissed the home team's professional Tom Smith for 27 but Guarav Dhar batted solidly and survived a middle order batting collapse to carry his bat for 69.

None of the next eight batsmen could get double figures to support Dhar and the home side were bowled out for 135.

The bowling honours for Preston were shared by Miller, and Ventura who both took three wickets.

Tom Smith soon had the visitors in trouble as he carried the fight to them dismissing both openers Mann and Ventura for one and five respectively and then dismissing number three McDonnell for 12.

Javed Hussein tore through the rest of the batting taking four wickets as Preston collapsed to 76 all out.