THE music and colour of the spectacle that is the Moorhouse’s Lancashire League Twenty20 begins tonight with misfiring Ramsbottom aiming to maintain their stranglehold on the competition.

Jonathan Fielding’s men have won the trophy for the past two seasons and the skipper is determined to go out and complete a hat-trick, despite their indifferent form.

Ramsbottom have lost two of their five league games and crashed out of the Foster’s Worsley Cup last weekend when East Lancashire stunned them but all eyes are on the T20 at Acre Bottom tonight as they begin their defence against Vinny Hanson’s Rawtenstall.

Mark Dentith comes into the side for the game, while Rawtenstall make the trip without a professional. Jandre Coetsee is due to arrive in the area today but not soon enough to debut this evening – but there is added spice as Ross Brown is in Hanson’s team and makes a first return to his old club.

Lowerhouse and Burnley meet in front of what is set to be a big crowd at Liverpool Road, while Bacup will also have a bumper gate for the visit of Haslingden, who pick young Burnley footballer Alex Coleman in their side for the derby.

Enfield host Accrington in another tasty derby clash, while Nelson make the trip to Centre Vale for their game with Todmorden.

And Alexandra Meadows plays host to a battle of two star spinning professionals as East Lancashire’s Ockert Erasmus faces Rishton paid man Daniel Salpietro.

The man of the match in each Twenty20 game this season will be rewarded with a case of Moorhouse’s beer.