ANOTHER hard fought maximum points victory over Rawtenstall put Ramsbottom in second spot in the Lancashire League table eight points behind shock leaders Church.

Skipper Richard Hevingham asked the home side to take first knock and the decision soon paid off when Chris Eardley had Cook-Martin brilliantly caught behind by the skipper.

With the score on 37 the Rams got the prize scalp of the opposition professional Payne when he mistimed a drive and was comfortably caught by Webb at mid-off.

When skipper Peter Hanson fell after the addition of one more run to give Eardley his third victim Rawtenstall were on the back foot and it was not long before Haslam compounded their misery by bowling both Barlow and Damian Hanson.

Wood set about repairing the damage but the introduction of Daggett into the attack brought about his downfall and when two more wickets fell in quick succession Rawtenstall were reeling at 94 for 8.

Spirited late resistance from Bingham and Dawson stopped the Rams in their tracks however and took the home side to 127 before Bingham fell to the Acre Bottom sides sub professional Nisar for a fine 29.

Another 21 runs were added in a frustrating last wicket stand before Haslam removed Roscoe to set the Rams a target of 149 for victory.

With the wicket taking spin the Rammy lads knew it was going to be hard graft and so it proved.

A promising opening stand was broken when Webb got a shooter which trapped him leg before and shortly afterwards his partner Bell was deceived by the canny veteran Roscoe and stumped.

Sub-professional Nisar then decided the best form of defence was attack and struck Payne for two sixes and a four in consecutive deliveries.

However, the Rawtenstall paid man had the last laugh by having him well taken at slip in his next over to leave the Acre Bottom side at 47 for 3 and in a somewhat precarious position.

As in the previous week the middle order showed it's true mettle with John Harrison joining David Bell at the crease.

Both played very watchfully till they grew in confidence and then started to open up with Harrison taking the lead role with a fine variety of strokes.

The pair advanced the score to 113 before Harrison was bowled by a beauty from Dawson.

When the patient Bell and Dentith fell in quick succession the Rams had slumped to 127 for 6 but the previous week's heroes Daggett and Read were at the crease and the away supporters were hoping for a repeat performance.

Sadly this was not to be as Read was caught at slip off Roscoe setting up another nail biting finish.

Daggett was then joined by his skipper and together they started to pinch cheeky singles and frustrate the home side before the Durham U.C.C.E. star straight drove the winning boundary much to the delight of the large Ramsbottom support in the crowd.