Stand narrowly defeated bottom club Woodbank in the Lancashire County League derby.

Stand pro Niranjan Kumara claimed 5-25 as Woodbank reached 118-8 in their rain-affected 38 overs, with star man Neil Ridehaugh unbeaten on 52.

Openers Dave Taylor (23) and Carl Sutcliffe (34) led the run-chase but the hosts collapsed to 110-9, before Lee Chadwick pulled Saeed Wasif to the boundary to seal Stand’s first victory over their neighbours since their return to the league in one of the closest finishes at the SCG years. Ryan Senior finished with 5-51.

The Whitefield men followed their victory by hosting Denton in the semi-final of the Walkden Cup on Sunday.

But the match – their most important for several years – was disrupted by rain and the contenders have been left trying to finish it off this week, only for the wet weather to intervene once again.

Captain Paul Wilkinson lost the toss for the first time in eight matches and was asked to bat first by visiting counterpart David Lees.

The first 20 overs belonged to Denton as opening bowlers Neill and Parker restricted Stand to 59-5 with Stuart Catterall top scoring on 15 before a rain interruption gave them time to regroup.

When they returned, Stand had a sensible run-a-ball 65 from Zahid Javed – including five fours and four sixes – with useful contribution from Sharp (17), Paul Duerden (19), and Gary Penchion (11), to thank for their progression to 150-9.

That was before a vital 23-run partnership for the last wicket, with Matt Curphey hitting 13, and an unbeaten 13 from Wilkinson, saw the hosts’ innings close on 173.

After a lengthy downpour, play was suspended at 7pm with the ground under water.

Walshaw led the Bolton Association for 24 hours following their thrilling victory over third-placed Little Hulton on Saturday.

Chasing their sixth title in 10 years, Jamie Pilling top scored with 37 in the Bury club’s 141-9 from their allotted 36 overs.

Inspirational captain Rob Faulkner (5-41) and in-form pro Jon Fielding (4-69) then combined to deny Little Hulton victory when, chasing a revised target of 129, they fell just two runs short.

But, when Walshaw’s game with Flixton the following day was abandoned, Daisy Hill took advantage to reclaim top spot.

Elton suffered a frustrating weekend with both their matches, against Astley & Tyldesley and Golborne respectively, victims of the weather.

In the Bolton League, the rule book had to be double checked at Greenmount before the game was called a draw because 25 overs were not completed.

Horwich made 146-7 in 33 overs with Ashar Zaidi taking 5-66. More rain meant the game was reduced to 20 overs with a target of 124, with third-placed Brandlesholme Road club ending on 110-5.

Struggling Bury enjoyed a winning draw against basement club Deane & Derby in the Manchester Association Premier League thanks mainly to Asif Iqbal’s unbeaten 83.