SOMETIMES, no matter what you do it's never enough, and that was the case on Sunday when Radcliffe entertained Oldham at the Racecourse.
The home side never scored enough runs and paid the price - defeat.
Home openers Hayes and Cruse made a promising start, putting up 22 before Hayes was bowled by Smith for seven.
The good work was continued when pro Pasan Wanansinghe joined the Aussie and they added a further 35 before Cruse was adjudged lbw to Smith for 22.
The pro was joined by Simpson for the third wicket, but unfortunately the paid man lasted for just another three runs before he was caught by Kuhn off Smith for a disappointing 14.
It got worse when Simpson fell victim to Smith for just one, leaving the home side on 71-4.
Gorsi and Farnworth added a further 17 before Gorsi (15) became the second to go to a Smith lbw claim.
His place was taken by Toby McLean, and he and Farnworth restored hope with a stand of 30, before Farnworth was run out.
Cheetham took his place and together with McLean threatened to push the total on, until McLean was caught by Inkpen off Smith for a topscore of 29.
With his wicket went the Racecoursemen's brief resurrection, and with their 50 overs completed the total stood at 166, thanks mainly to 36 extras that eclipsed McLean's effort.
Chief destroyer for the visitors was Smith with a devastating 7-54.
Things didn't seem too bad when Oldham's first wicket went for just five, with McLean bowling opener Bloor.
But just when Radcliffe thought they had the visitors on the ropes at 47 for 4, Garnett went to the crease, and his dogged knock of 60 put the visitors back on track.
Along with McDonnell (20) and pro Martin Smith (29no) Oldham reached their target with five wickets and 8.2 overs to spare.
STAND travelled to Werneth and after winning the toss and electing to bat they made a shaky start, losing three wickets to Wilson in the first 10 overs, for only 35 runs.
However John Seedle and Dave Taylor produced the best partnership of the season as they added 134 for the fourth wicket. Taylor made 54 from just 66 balls, including five fours and one six.
Meanwhile, at the other end Seedle was holding the innings together whilst playing his way to a sublime unbeaten 106, which comprised 11 fours and two sixes.
Thanks to good lower order support from Khan (19) and Chris Holt (13), Stand reached 237-7 in their allotted 50 overs. David Lees was the pick of the home side's attack, finishing with 3-25.
Werneth's run chase began very slowly as they reached 11 for the loss of Ainsworth (5) at the 10 over stage. This was attributed to excellent early bowling from Eddie Shah and Jack Ritchie.
Durose was joined at the crease by Indian professional Kanitkar and the pair added 62 before the former (39) was caught at mid-on by Shah off Holt's bowling.
Shah then claimed his only wicket of the afternoon as Werneth's overseas player Perris was trapped lbw for two, with the board on 92-3.
The home side progressed to 144 before Kanitkar (52) was run out by a superb direct hit from Craig Ferguson in the deep, as he chanced a third run off Warren's bowling.
David Lees then yet again put a spanner in the works as he played an agricultural, cross-batted innings, bludgeoning an unbeaten 88 from 62 balls to swing the game back in Werneth's favour.
The home side lost one further wicket with 37 required for victory, but Lees was joined by Gill (16 not out) and the pair wrapped up the proceedings with eight overs to spare.
WITH Dion Taljard unable to play in the first meeting between Unsworth and his former club Royton, this was an interesting encounter.
Royton, batting first, soon lost opener Harding (1) caught behind off Taljard.
But a stand of 75 between Ward (54) and pro Imam (34) relieved the pressure.
However, a bowling change brought on Alan Badenhorst and he certainly livened things up, and two wickets for two runs saw Royton on 83-3.
With Ward still at the crease, Royton looked calm and a stand of 31 between Ward and Gibbons (12) saw Royton to 114, before Badenhorst picked up 5-61, and with Taljard claiming 5-31, Royton were all out for 159.
By contrast, Unsworth's reply stuttered along, with wickets falling steadily to leave them on 59-4 halfway through their allotted 50 overs.
However, Badenhorst clubbed 38 off 39 balls and with J.P. Hean's Support (75) the Unsworth total rocketed along to 140, before Badenhorst was caught and bowled by Imam.
With Hean falling to the bowling of Cook, it was perhaps fitting that the winning runs came from the bat of Taljard, as Unsworth completed a 10 point double over Royton.
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