PERHAPS only Church could have enjoyed such a perfect Sunday.

All their prayers were answered yesterday as Phil Sykes's men beat Ramsbottom and saw all their title rivals thwarted to step up their unlikely championship challenge.

With the sloping Blackburn Road ground draining quickly enough to allow a 33-over game to go ahead, both Church and Ramsbottom were given the opportunity to steal a march on Nelson and Haslingden, who were washed out.

And it was Church who grasped the nettle to secure an ultimately comfortable 19-run win which gained added importance when news filtered through of leaders Bacup's surprise home defeat by Worsley Cup finalists Lowerhouse.

"It's been a good day," said Sykes, after taking the catch to secure maximum points for his side with three balls to spare.

"All we can do is keep winning games. Bacup are the team that everybody will fancy, because they have done it year after year and have the experience of winning it.

"They are a strong side, as are Nelson, and all we can do is try to keep putting wins together and see what happens.

"The top seven is so tight, with the no-results squeezing it up even more. There are only a few points separating them and if you lose a couple you are at the bottom of those seven. But it's nice to be in there."

Church, who last won the league in 1962, have now won six successive home games and it was Sykes who set the tone by blasting the second ball of the day for four after play belatedly got under way just after 3.30pm.

His 25 off just 30 balls contained one more four and a six and even though professional Ruvin Peiris pulled a long-hop from opposite number Asif Mujtaba into the hands of David Bell for just six, the hosts were able to reach a more than useful 143-9.

Adam Greenwood top scored with 36, adding 43 for the fourth wicket with Alec Holt. Greenwood scored at a run-a-ball with five fours and a six and only a superb boundary catch by Robert Read stopped him in his tracks.

Mujtaba, standing in for Murali Kartik while he trains with the Indian squad in Madras, picked up five wickets, but Church were able to keep their momentum going and 13 off the final over by Westwell, including a one-handed six over mid-wicket, gave them the perfect finish.

Ramsbottom could have enhanced their own title credentials with a successful run chase but in truth made an abject attempt.

The visitors appeared to pin all their hopes on Mujtaba, the former Pakistani international borrowed from Norden.

Mujtaba, who will also play against East Lancs next Sunday, almost delivered as he hit a 56-ball half-century full of quality shots. He had hit two sixes and three fours but when he holed out to deep mid-on off Andrew Bentley with the total on 88 Ramsbottom were suddenly in deep trouble with six wickets down in the 23rd over.

None of the amateur batsmen had shown much of a positive intent until Lee Daggett, Andy Holt and Chris Eardley belatedly tried to up the tempo.

However, Nick Westwell's superb return catch ended Holt's effort after Daggett had been stumped off the returning Peiris and the Sri Lankan also claimed the final wicket when Eardley's towering blow was well caught by Sykes in front of the pavilion steps.

"It was a good win with some good all-round contributions," Sykes added. "We lost the pro early and were 50-3 with the top three batsman but got to 144, which was a good score.

"Andrew Bentley and Nick Westwell have bowled consistently well this season, and after the first four or five games the pro has bowled well.

"We always felt that if we got their pro, even when he had 50, they might struggle because it wasn't easy to bat, and that's what happened."

CHURCH 143-9

RAMSBOTTOM 124

Church 12pts, Ramsbottom 4

CHURCH

P Sykes c Mujtaba b Haslam...25

Peiris c D Bell b Mujtaba...6

M Aspin run out...14

A Holt b Mujtaba...12

A Greenwood c Read b Eardley...36

S Tucker c Read b Eardley...10

C Maudsley b Mujtaba...1

S Holt lbw Mujtaba...8

P Gilraine c Haslam b Mujtaba...4

N Westwell not out...13

A Bentley not out...2

Extras...12

Total (9 wickets)...143

Bowling: M Haslam 10-1-42-1; Mujtaba 16-3-44-5; C Eardley 7-0-46-2.

RAMSBOTTOM

A Bell c Peiris b Bentley...8

K Webb c Maudsley b Bentley...8

Mujtaba c Holt b Bentley...50

D Bell c Peiris b Westwell...4

R Read b Westwell...4

M Gowers c Aspin b Bentley...0

L Daggett st Tucker b Peiris...14

A Holt c and b Westwell...13

C Eardley c Sykes b Peiris...7

R Hevingham run out...3

M Haslam not out...0

Extras...13

Total...124

Bowling: A Bentley 12-1-47-4; N Westwell 16-1-44-3; Peiris 4.3-0-20-2.

Matches abandoned (3 pts each): Accrington v Rishton; Burnley v Rawtenstall; Haslingden v Colne; Nelson v Todmorden