CAPTAIN fantastic Jack Bradley led from the front as Nelson's Under eleven squad clocked up an impressive 65 runs win over Ramsbottom.

It was a welcome return to form following a 27 runs defeat to Clitheroe, with Miles Pemberton (2-1) and Joe Dickinson (2-12) impressing with the ball against Clitheroe for the Seedhill youngsters.

Unfortunately, rain intervened in the Under-9 fixture between Nelson and Ramsbottom,with Nelson just 20 runs short of their victory target when a lengthy downpour forced the match to be abandoned.

Ramsbottom had piled on 240-5, with Ethan Pemberton (2-14), Joe Birks, Anna Pettinger and Tom Garner all among the wickets.

It had look promising for Nelson, with them having posted 220-4 (Oliver Dinning, 15*) when the rain came.

The previous weekend, Nelson Under 9s were edged out by one run against Rawtenstall in their first double header of the campaign.

The next day, Nelson were at Church and once again they fell to a narrow defeat.

Church fired 250-4, with Tom Garner and Oliver Dinning leading the Nelson bowling attack.

But Church made it home, firing 253-6, to claim a three wicket win.

Nelson Under 13s B began the new season with a defeat at Bacup while the Under 11s lost by 48 runs to Todmorden at Seedhill, despite some fine batting from Miles Pemberton and Jack Bradley.

Meanwhile, the Under 13s 11-a-side team went down to Haslingden by five wickets in an exciting Twenty20 clash.

Sam Johnson and George Graham both batted well for Nelson, while Keiron Cunningham also picked up a couple of wickets.