WHAT a difference a day makes!

Twenty-four hours earlier the Rams had collapsed against perennial Central Lancashire League lower order side Heywood while Church had defeated one of that league's top dogs Middleton.

Smarting from their experience the Acre Bottom opening partnership of professional Michael Clarke and Nick Riley tore into the Church bowling with a series of high quality strokes.

The partnership had reached 80 when Riley perished, caught on the boundary attempting to hit a third six off the opposition paid man.

Keith Webb joined the Rammy pro and together they put on an excellent partnership of 126 with the amateur content to play a secondary role as Clarke recorded his first century of the season.

When both were out going for runs in the later overs there was a clatter of wickets as the Rams batsmen went for a good old slog!

With the wicket playing well an early breakthrough was essential when Church began their reply.

This duly arrived when opener Fergusson was run out as a result of a great piece of fielding.

Alec Holt soon followed and when David Bell took a brilliant one-handed catch to dismiss Church professional Higgs the game was over as a contest.

The Rams continued to plug away and thanks to some fine fielding and steady bowling they were able to claim maximum points with professional Clarke completing an excellent allround performance by taking 3 for 5 with the ball.

Rammy suffered an ignominous defeat to Central Lancashire League outfit Heywood at Acre Bottom on Saturday.

Electing to bat on a perfectly good track they produced a horror show against a bowling attack that could be best described as 'friendly'.

Only Keith Webb, with an excellent 66, and Richard Hevingham with 19 not out, showed the necessary application, the remaining batsmen falling to a series of injudicious shots and the odd dubious decision.

A target of 138 was never going to be a challenge and Heywood professional Craig Sugden showed just how easy the wicket was by coasting to an excellent hundred and seeing his side home with plenty of time to spare.