RAMSBOTTOM were involved in three thrilling games over the Bank Holiday weekend and emerged with only one success.

On Saturday, the Acre Bottom side, depleted due to work and holiday commitments, visited high-flying East Lancs in the first round of the Worsley Cup.

Put in to bat they made a steady if not spectacular start against tight bowling but professional, Arnberger, and Keith Webb, eventually upped the tempo and the pair took the score to 116 before the professional was well held on the square leg boundary for an excellent 66.

After this dismissal, the remaining Ramsbottom batsmen floundered somewhat, and a final score of 159 was some 20 or 30 runs short of what should have been achieved.

After losing an early wicket, the East Lancs batsmen adopted an aggressive approach and played a lot of risky lofted strokes, which seemed to pay off as they kept well in front of the required scoring rate.

However, the Acre Bottom lads refused to buckle under and when Chris Eardley held a great catch on the boundary to remove the dangerous Turner, they sensed they were in with a shout.

Then, with the score on 109, Michael Haslam trapped the East Lancs pro Louw, leg before wicket, causing the balance of power to tilt towards the Rams. However, the pivotal point of the game came with the score at 130 for six when the dangerous Iqbal, on 10 at the time, was dropped off a straightforward chance at long off. He was able to push his side to the verge of victory before being bowled.

Even then, the Rams refused to give in and there were only two balls of the game remaining when the winning runs were scored.

On Sunday, another difficult game beckoned Ramsbottom when they entertained the champions of the past three seasons, Bacup. Putting the opposition in to bat the Rams gave another terrier-like performance in the field, the only minus point being the concession of 13 extras in wides and no balls.

Still wickets fell at regular intervals and two bonus points were gratefully received when Bacup were all out for 161 in the final over.

Against most sides, that type of target would have been most acceptable but against the formidable opening attack of Aussie, Sean Young, and David Ormerod, it is a tough mountain to climb.

Much depended on the broad shoulders of the Rammy pro, Arnberger, and he really buckled down to the task. Playing with bags of determination, he grafted his way to 43 before being caught in the slips from an almost unplayable delivery from the Bacup pro. This left the Rams on 84 for five with only 15 overs remaining, and things looked bleak.

Enter Bobby Horrocks. The ex-Greenmount player produced probably his finest innings as he started laying in the amateur bowling with gusto.

Almost single handedly he pushed the Ramsbottom score towards the required total, and in the penultimate over of the game smashed Young for two glorious fours through the covers before bringing up his 50. Tragically, he lost the strike after the first ball of the final over and his colleagues were unable to give it him back and the Rams fell seven runs short.

After the frustrations of the two previous days, the Acre Bottom side, further weakened by the loss of Horrocks, visited top Central Lancs League side Littleborough, in the second round of the Inter-league Cup. Putting the opposition in to bat they had an excellent start against the star-studded batting line-up and had half the side back in the shed with only 44 on the board. An excellent knock of 52 by Fordham spared the home side's blushes, taking their final score of 122 -- 50 runs too many for Ramsbottom, according to the local wags in an excellent crowd. Their predictions didn't look out of place as the Rams slipped to 23 for four, with professional out for only six.

John Harrison (21) and Keith Webb (19) endeavoured to settle the ship but when they had both departed and the score stood at 64 for six, there looked to be only one winner. However, young Danny Hornby hadn't read the script and, like Horrocks the previous day, took the attack to the opposition. Even so, his partners perished and at 95 for eight there was still plenty of work to do. He was then joined by opening bowler, Mick Haslam, and together they made a difficult wicket look almost benign as they took Ramsbottom to a surprise, but thoroughly deserved victory, which proved a bitter pill to swallow for the home followers.