Fielding amazed by Ram recovery (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Fielding amazed by Ram recovery

1:00pm Friday 29th June 2012 in League news

JON Fielding admits he feared the worst when he saw Ramsbottom’s Acre Bottom under feet of water last weekend – and can barely believe that he will lead his men out onto the same ground tonight in the Moorhouse’s Lancashire League Twenty20 semi-final.

Heavy rain seven days ago led to the River Irwell bursting its banks and swamping Acre Bottom.

But an army of volunteers worked through the week to clear the water and get the ground fit and the semi-final with Todmorden goes ahead as planned.

“I can’t believe we are playing,” said Fielding. “When the river bursts its banks like that you are normally in trouble and I must admit I thought that was it for us for a month.

“But people have been down and we are going to play the game – and that is amazing.”

Ramsbottom have won the T20 for the past two seasons and Fielding is determined to try and make it three on the spin but knows it will be a tough game.

“We take the competition seriously as our results over the past two years have shown,” added Fielding. “And we want to try and win it again.”

The night’s other semi-final promises to be a cracker as Church play host to Haslingden in a repeat of last Sunday’s Worsley Cup quarter-final.

Church are at full strength for the game while Haslingden keep Burnley footballer Alex Coleman in their Twenty20 side, which is led by pro Harry Boam.