FOLLOWING the postponement of the Worsley Cup clash with Nelson, Ramsbottom made the short journey to Haslingden to take on last season's champions in the Lancashire League match of the day.

Asked to bat first on a pudding of a wicket, Ramsbottom made a steady if unspectacular start before Steve Dearden took a fine catch of his own bowling to dismiss Simon Read. Alex Bell then joined Webb at the crease and the pair took the score to 56 before Bell, looking in good touch after an injury lay-off, pulled a short ball from Catterall into the arms of Blomley at mid on.

By this time, the wicket had started to play tricks and David Bell soon followed his brother back to the pavilion after being adjudged caught behind. Rammy's pro, Kartik, then joined Webb and the pair took the score to 90 before Webb, who had grafted manfully for his team, fell to a ball that kept low.

Kartik then showed his value to the team by taking the attack to the opposition and, despite unfortunately running out Brian Taylor, looked set to make a half century until being yorked by a beauty from Dearden, following a lengthy delay after being hit on the toe the previous delivery.

Mark Dentith and skipper Richard Hevingham then contributed to the Rams' all out total of 153, a score some 20 runs short of what the side had targeted.

Facing such a powerful batting line-up, the Acre Bottom boys knew early wickets were essential and once more Kartik didn't let them down, bowling Graham Knowles off his pads and then having his brother Barry caught at slip.

This left Steve Dearden and professional, Pasan Wanasinghe, at the crease. After the latter got away with having his wickets shattered by a Mick Haslam no ball, the pair steadily built up what looked like a match-winning partnership until Dearden, who had just smashed Chris Eardley for six, attempted to repeat the dose and succeeded only in holing out to Simon Read at deep mid off.

Both Kartik and Chris Eardley started to turn the screw with tight bowling, backed up by some fine fielding and, try as they might, Wanasinghe and the talented England under-19 wicket-keeper, John Simpson, found it difficult to score freely.

Frustration eventually got to the Haslingden pro and he tried to smash Kartik out of the ground, only to hear the death rattle of his stumps being shattered.

As the overs ticked by, a sense of panic started to creep into the home batsmen. This led to the downfall of several of the middle and tail end of the team who tried to smash Eardley out of the attack, knowing they would get little change from the Indian spin genius.

Unfortunately, Eardley bowled such a good line that there was very little to hit and, in taking risks, they only succeeded in finding the Rammy fielders who hung onto their chances.

The game ended when Mick Blomley was run out with the score on 131 to give the Rams a famous victory against one of the strongest league sides around.

Chris Eardley's figures of five for 40 earned him a well-deserved collection but, once again, Kartik proved instrumental in restricting the opposition with his masterly spin bowling.