RAMSBOTTOM will play Colne in the semi-finals of the Worsley Cup after a convincing seven-wicket win against Nelson.

The game against Colne, who demolished holders Todmorden, will take place at Acre Bottom on Sunday June 24.

Ramsbottom were in top form as they pegged Nelson back to just 126 and then knocked off the winning runs in double quick time.

During Nelson's innings Rammy's Aussie pro Brad Hodge was the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets for 31 runs off his 10 overs. Tommy Read did well too, claiming two wickets from his 10 overs and conceding just 17 runs.

Nelson's score would have been even lower had it not been for an excellent innings from Jonathan Finch. The opener hit 71, more than half of his side's total.

In reply, the Rams batted well. Tommy Read hit 27 before being run out while fellow opener Mark Price scored 40.

Brad Hodge then came in and finished the job, hitting an unbeaten 48, though he did have a lucky escape early on when a Nelson fielder dropped an easy catch.

The previous day had been a nailbiter.

East Lancs had been the visitors at Acre Bottom and posted a below average first innings score of 124 for 9.

Mark Price was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets and as Ramsbottom began their innings there was a feeling of 'how long will it take to win'.

But the home side were in for a shock as the East Lancs bowlers did superbly. Wickets fell at regular intervals with only Brad Hodge (42) and Tommy Read (19) showing any resistance.

However, Rammy came almighty close to winning but with just three wuns needed for victory last man Haslam was out for a duck and the home side were left stranded on 122 all out. RAMSBOTTOM v EAST LANCS

EAST LANCS

A Clague c Hevingham b Haslam...2

R Cooperm st Hevingham b Price...34

Young c Hevingham b S Read...2

P Bolton c Hevingham b Haslam...11

C Riley b Hodge...31

P Mercer c Marcroft b Price...8

P Kelly c Marcroft b Price...6

J Van Boeckel not out...15

N Iqbal c Morton b Hodge...1

I Haworth c Hodge b Price...2

M Egan not out...1

Extras...11

Total (9 wickets)...124

M Haslam 12-4-23-2 S Read 9-1-22-1 T Read 7-3-18-0 M Price 13-5-23-4 Hodge 9-0-31-2

RAMSBOTTOM

T Read c Riley b Young...19

D Bell c Van Boeckel b Young...11

B Hodge b Kelly...42

N Dentith c Iqbal b Young...13

J Morris b Kelly...3

J Marcroft c Riley b Young...8

M Price lbw Kelly...3

J Marcroft c Riley b Young...8

M Price lbw Kelly...3

R Hevingham b Kelly...13

S Read b Kelly...3

G Morton not out...0

M Haslam st Egan b Kelly...0

extras...10

Total...122

N Iqbal 7-3-11-0 Young 24-2-67-4 I Haworth 9-2-17-0 P Kelly 9.4-2-19-6

WORSLEY CUP

NELSON v RAMSBOTTOM

NELSON

J Finch b Haslam...71

Wingfield st Hevingham b S Read...10

P Garaghty st Hevingham b T Read...2

D Kegg run out...6

M Bradley c S Read b T Read...7

K Nazir b Morton...2

J Warwick b Hodge...12

M Khan st Hevingham b Hodge...0

J Thurstan not out...0

M Heap b Hidge...0

S Riaz not out...1

extras...15

Total (9 wickets)...126

M Price 1-0-1-0 M Haslam 9-4-14-1 S Read 10-1-35-1 Hodge 10-2-31-3 T Read 10-4-17-2 G Morton 10-2-25-1

RAMSBOTTOM

T Read run out...27

M Proce b Nazir...40

Hodge not out...48

S Lord b Wingfield...7

M Dentith not out...3

extras...3

Total (3 wickets)...128

Wingfield 8-3-15-1 M Heap 8-1-28-0 K Nazir 10-1-36-1 S Riaz 10-2-20-0 J Finch 4-0-28-0