LOWERHOUSE powered into a 14-point lead after Ramsbottom slipped up in what could turn out to be a pivotal weekend in the Lancashire League.

On Saturday, Chris Benbow's 7-55 helped Lowerhouse to a 12-point win over East Lancs.

They also picked up another 12 as they beat Colne on Sunday. Benbow was again the hero with 34 not out and four wickets.

But Worsley Cup champions Ramsbottom crucially slipped up this weekend.

After beating Rishton on Saturday thanks to a magnificent 115 not out from Alex Bell, they came unstuck on Sunday when current champions Haslingden put a huge dent into their title hopes.

Haslingden's sub pro Imran Tahir took 6-64 and hit 40 not out with John Simpson hitting 48 not out as the champions won by seven wickets.

Haslingden enjoyed their double header. On Saturday, they amassed 277-5 to beat Enfield by 98 runs.

Steve Dearden hit 116 in a stand of 149 with Paul Blackledge.

There was good news and bad news for Nelson this weekend.

Joe Scuderi broke the club's amatuer batting record with an unbeaten 72 in Nelson's nine-wicket win over Church.

They also got a win on Sunday but had to say goodbye to pro Nathan Hauritz who is returning home for treatment on a wrist injury.

But their game against Burnley wasn't without controversey.

It started when Neil Thompson pulled away from the stumps when Burnley pro Jonathan harvey was in his delivery stride. The ball hit the stumps and after consultation he was given out.

Nelson's sub pro Saeed Anwar hit 99 but there were more problems when an appeal against Jonathan Clare for obstructing the field was turned down.

The double win leaves Nelson in third place with Colne in fourth who started the weekend with a 12-run win over Accrington before losing to Lowerhouse.

It was a rollercoaster weekend for Todmorden.

They beat Rawtenstall by four wickets on Saturday thanks to 42 from Stuart Priestley,

But on Sunday, Tod were shot out for just just 67 at Enfield.

Priestley was the only man to impress with 31 but five wickets each for Alviro Petersen and Neil Holmes saw Enfield take an easy win.

Church won Sunday's local derby with Accrington.

Tama Canning hit 57 not out in Accrington's 233-9.

But Ruvin Peiris and former Accrington batsman Adam Greenwood put on 164 for the first wicket as Church eased to victory

It wasn't a good weekend for Rishton who lost at Ramsbottom and East Lancs respectively.