THE old adage that "catches win matches" was never better illustrated than in Sunday's Worsley Cup final as Ramsbottom took home the coveted trophy for only the fourth time in their 156-year history.

Playing the Lancashire League champions and current league leaders Bacup they went into the tie as underdogs but in the end ran out comfortable winners.

After winning the toss skipper Mark Price chose to bowl first but must have wondered what was going on when the Bacup openers came out with all guns blazing running up 23 from the first five overs.

Something was clearly needed to lift the Rams and it arrived in the shape of a brilliant catch by David Bell to dismiss the dangerous Peter Thompson.

This brought the bang in-form Bacup professional Shaun Young to the crease and the score moved onto 38 before the vociferous home support was stunned into silence.

Firstly opening Dominic ayres was caught behind off Michael Haslam then in Tommy Read's first over Young inexplicably cut a short ball right into gully's hands.

Two more wickets fell to good catches and at 45 for 5 a few pundits were saying it was game over.

But the Lanehead side then showed just why they are top of the league as Lord and Killelea steadied the ship and took the score to 89 before the former fell to a good delivery.

Another quick wicket boosted Ramsbottom's spirits but heralded the entry of the charismatic Bacup wicketkeeper John Chapman who played one of the best cup final innings ever seen to score 55 off only 48 balls.

Along with the able Killelea he took the score to 176 before being caught on the long off boundary.

Chapman's innings earned him a record £360 collection. The Bacup tail then quickly folded but a total of 190 looked a daunting task for the Acre Bottom side.

A good start was essential and duly made by Nick Riley and Tommy Read.

Read was content play second fiddle to Riley who took the attack to the league's leading amateur bowler Ormerod.

Both opening bowlers had been taken out of the attack and the score moved onto 49 when Riley was struck on the head by a bouncer and had to leave the field for treatment.

The lengthy delay must have affected Read's concentration for he was immediately out stumped.

Mark Dentith quickly followed him to the pavilion with the score on 50 and Brad Hodge and Simon Lord were left to start from scratch.

The Ramsbottom professional gave his team a scare when he survived a difficult catch in the gulley when on seven.

He then started to pick up the tempo and with Lord took the score to 105 before the amateur danced down the wicket and was stumped.

Hodge then survived another - much easier - chance to slip when on 32 and started to make Bacup pay with some glorious strokes all round the wicket.

The last Ramsbottom wicket to fall was the brave Riley who had returned to the crease after the dismissal of Lord.

He made an excellent 40 before being caught behind with the score on 132.

Veteran skipper Mark Price then joined the paid man and the both looked in little trouble to a Bacup attack that appeared somewhat dispirited.

Hodge survived another chance at cover when on 72 but by this time it was too late for the home side as the Rams had done into cruise control.

It was fitting that the immensely popular skipper Price should hit the winning runs which sparked huge celebrations in the Acre Bottom camp and left Bacup to rue their missed chances.

BACUP

P. Thompson c Bell b Daggett...10

Drove hard to mid off, brilliant diving catch

D. Ayres c Hevingham b Haslam...14

Inside edge, well caught by wicketkeeper

S. Young c Riley b Read...6

Cut short ball to gulley

M. O'Connor c Dentith b Daggett...2

Slashed a full length ball good overhead catch at point

A. Spencer c Lord b Daggett...4

Thick edge to gulley trying to drive

T. Lord b Price...25

Deceived by well flighted delivery

P. Killelea c Daggett b Hodge...46

Well caught on boundary pulling short delivery

D. Thompson lbw Hodge...0

Missed arm ball

J. Chapman c Bell b Read...55

Skied drive to deep mid off boundary

N. Wilkins not out...89

D. Ormerod c Price b Hodge...3

Skied attempted drive to mid on

Extras...17

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Total 190

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49.1 overs

Fall of wickets: 23, 38, 38, 44, 45, 89, 90, 176, 181, 190.

M. Haslam 10-2-25-1; L. Daggett 10-0-44-3; T. Read 10-0-31-2; B. Hodge 9.1-0-42-3; M. PRice 19-3-40-1.

RAMSBOTTOM

T. Read st Chapman b Lord...15

Played and missed, failed to get back in crease

N. Riley c Chapman b Lord...40

Edged out swinger, well caught by keeper stood up

B. Hodge not out...86

M. Dentith c Ormerod b Spencer...1

Mistimed drive to mid off

S. Lord st Chapman b Wilkinson...15

Went down track to spinner. Missed ball

M. Price not out...17

Extras...18

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Total (for 4) 192

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45 overs

Fall of wickets: 49, 50, 105, 132.

S. Young 10-3-28-0; D. Ormerod 8-2-26-0; T. Lord 10-0-50-2; A. Spencer 10-1 39-1; N. Wilkinson 7-0-37-1.