CHORLEY professional Stephen John took an incredible nine wickets for the loss of just 12 runs in a devastating display of swing bowling against local rivals Leyland at Fox Lane.

John's figures of 11-5-12-9 is the best by any Chorley bowler in the 51 years of Northern League cricket, bettered only in the club's history by the legendary Tommy Edwardson's 10 for 63, which the former East Lancs spinner took against Darwen in the 50s when both clubs were members of the Ribblesdale League.

On Saturday, pro Peter Koortzen (14) was the only Leyland player to reach double figures before being clean-bowled by a beauty from John, who dismissed five batsmen without scoring, only a streaky boundary by a Leyland tail-ender preventing the Chorley pro from finishing with 9 for 8.

Mawdesley chipped in with the ninth wicket to fall to deny John all ten on an afternoon when the Pakistan star was virtually unplayable.

An opening partnership of 24 ensured that Chorley cantered to victory by eight wickets in just 12 overs.

NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE : LEYLAND 35, CHORLEY 36 for 2 (Chorley 12 pts beat Leyland 0 pts by 8 wickets)