Lancashire opener Paul Horton missed out on what would have been his third Roses County Championship century against Yorkshire in five innings today.

Both sides were frustrated by the wet weather at Old Trafford as only 33 overs were possible on day two.

In reply to Yorkshire's below par first-innings 181 all out, the hosts reached 219 for two after 69 overs to lead by 38 at the close.

Horton, the 26 year-old Sydney-born batsman, had added 23 runs to his overnight score of 61 and moved to within 16 runs of his first four-day century of the LV Division One campaign when rained forced the players off the field just before lunch.

When they returned at 5.40pm Horton was soon caught behind down the leg side by Gerard Brophy off Tim Bresnan, without adding to his score.

Former England swing bowler Matthew Hoggard had boosted the White Rose with the wicket of Tom Smith, caught behind by a juggling Brophy, for 40 off just the sixth ball of the day - and Lancashire were 107 for one in the 37th over.

Mal Loye came in at number three and looked scratchy early on but seemed to get going after the first rain break of the morning. He had reached 21 off 31 balls when the second band of rain forced an early lunch.

Horton scored 152 and 149 on his previous two visits to Headingley and recorded 16 and 69 not out in the corresponding fixture here last year.

He was dropped at third slip by Adil Rashid off Bresnan on 64, but Brophy later made no mistake just 10 balls after the players returned to the field this evening.

Loye continued his steady run of form and reached his third championship 50 of the season off 73 balls when he pulled Ajmal Shahzad for a confident boundary. He had earlier mistimed the same bowler for six over third-man.

The 36 year-old closed the day unbeaten on 61 off 93 balls, with VVS Laxman for company. The pair shared an unbroken 63 for the third wicket.

The forecast seems to be set fair around Manchester tomorrow but it is not looking great for Monday's final day, so Lancashire will need to push on towards 400 as quickly as possible tomorrow.

That will be the Red Rose side's first aim - especially because they have recorded the maximum of five batting bonus points just once in their last 28 matches, dating back to August 2007.

The only time in that period that they managed the feat was against Yorkshire in a dead draw at Headingley last season.