TODMORDEN’S first game of the season at Ramsbottom was a victim of the rain on Sunday – but they did manage to get some action in over the weekend.

And it was a sweet day for Andrew Sutcliffe’s men as they put one over their close rivals Walsden.

The Central Lancashire League outfit played host to the annual friendly There was plenty of action in the always spicy friendly and Todmorden professional Qaiser Abbas claimed four wickets as Walsden posted a seemingly respectable 142-9 from 40 overs.

But Centre Vale star Simon Newbitt exploded into life with the bat smashing an unbeaten 85 as Sutcliffe’s men strolled home with five wickets in hand to claim the local bragging rights.