After all the excitement of Darren Lehmann and Anthony McGrath's record-breaking stand of 317 on Saturday, it was back to dour Roses cricket at Headingley yesterday as Yorkshire worked hard to make Lancashire follow-on.

They have so far been foiled in their ambitions by Alec Swann, the former Northamptonshire batsman, who completed a meticulous century on his Roses debut and left himself in with a chance of becoming the first batsman since Charlie Hallows in 1929 to carry his bat in a Roses match.

There were no frills and few thrills attached to Swann's unbeaten 121, accumulated over six-and-a-half hours, but it prevented Yorkshire from taking complete control of the match and will probably deny them their first victory of the season.

Lancashire need to make 366 to avoid the follow-on and by close of play they were almost there at 330 for six. Just as Lehmann's 'life' on 22 had proved costly to Lancashire, so did Swann's escape when he was put down by Vic Craven at third slip on four the previous evening and he was 31 and Stuart Law 32 when Lancashire began the third day on 89 for two.

Darren Gough, who had earlier proved his fitness for the first Test at Lord's by bowling both Mark Chilton and David Byas, ran in energetically again but could not stop Law going to his 50 off 76 balls with five fours.

Ryan Sidebottom's next delivery, however, shot straight through the Australian's defences and rattled his stumps and the left-armer's next ball was glanced too finely by Neil Fairbrother and Richard Blakey took off to his right to hold on to an excellent catch.

Suddenly, Lancashire were in big trouble at 111 for four with Sidebottom having taken wickets with the last two balls of his over and he had a long wait for his hat-trick delivery because rain then caused the loss of 25 overs.

When his chance finally arrived he appealed in vain for lbw against Swann who went calmly on to his half-century while Glen Chapple injected some beef into the batting and was particularly punishing on Craig White, twice sending balls from England's recalled all-rounder racing to the extra cover boundary.

Lancashire's slow progress was in marked contrast to Yorkshire's gallop to 515 for five declared when Lehmann (187) and McGrath (165) broke no end of batting records with their astonishing stand which was the highest ever made by a Yorkshire pair for any wicket at Headingley.