Match Day 3rd May 2003
RAIN
Saturday's Games Ruined by Bank Holiday Rain.
By Gerry Wolstenholme
Saturday's programme of games in the Northern Premier League was decimated by rain and no games in either division produced a result with every team taking four points.
Play did not start at Blackpool or Darwen (where two official umpires were noticeable only by their absence) but it was at nearby Preston that most cricket was played. Visitors Netherfield batted and managed to stay in the field, barring time off for showers, until gone five o'clock. By then they had reached 157-8 with Pieter Strydom continuing his great form with 76 and Rhys Williams taking 3-11 for Preston. But it was all academic as the rain eventually forced an abandonment.
Chorley won the toss at Fleetwood and put the home side in to bat. They had advanced to 65-5 before the rain became too heavy to continue. Stephen John took 3-24 for Chorley. It was a similar story at Kendal where visitors Leyland made 116-8 with professional Luckman Vahaluwala making a top score of 35 and Kabir Khan taking 4-11.
Finally Peter Stephens' splendid return of 6-23 was in vain as Morecambe reduced Leyland Motors to 60-7 before rain intervened.
In the second division all six games started but none advanced into a second innings. Unluckiest side of the day must have been Morecambe who bowled out Leyland Motors for only 35 and then had no chance of a reply.
First Division scores in brief (home team in bold):
Blackpool v St Annes - no play - match abandoned both teams 4 points
Darwen v Lancaster - no play - match abandoned both teams 4 points
Fleetwood 65-5 (John 3-24) v Chorley - rain stopped play - match abandoned both teams 4 points
Leyland 116-8 (Vahaluwala 35, Khan 4-11) v Kendal - rain stopped play - match abandoned both teams 4 points
Leyland Motors 60-7 (Stephens 6-23) v Morecambe- rain stopped play - match abandoned both teams 4 points
Netherfield 157-8 (Strydom 76, Williams 3-11) v Preston - rain stopped play - match abandoned both teams 4 points
Second Division scores in brief (home team in bold):
Chorley 62-4 v Fleetwood - rain stopped play - match abandoned both teams 4 points
Lancaster 93-4 v Darwen - rain stopped play - match abandoned both teams 4 points
Leyland 117-8 v Kendal - rain stopped play - match abandoned both teams 4 points
Netherfield 213 -5 (Dodds 95) v Preston - rain stopped play - match abandoned both teams 4 points
St Annes 38-1 v Blackpool - rain stopped play - match abandoned both teams 4 points
