RAMSBOTTOM'S Tommy Read picked up his first ever senior wickets and kept his side firmly at the forefront of the Lancashire League title chase.

Three wickets in one over put the skids under valley rivals Rawtenstall at Acre Bottom to keep the Rams at the top of the table.

The visitors were skittled for 108 all out with Read picking up four wickets and his namesake Simon chipping in with three for a crucial maximum point haul.

Tommy also got the reply off to a steady start putting on 38 for the first wicket with Neil Richardson before a mini collapse resulted in the Rams sliding to 82 for 6.

However a valuable 19 from Simon got the league leaders to their target.

IT was local derby time in the Central Lancashire League and Stand surprisingly got the verdict against Radcliffe in a tight finish.

The Hamilton Road club's attack pinned down the Radcliffe opening pair of Bruce Cruse and Michael Ramsbottom and only ten runs came from the first ten overs

Richard Heaton (47) and then Graeme Simpson (26) and David Jones (30) repaired much of the damage but a total of 159 for 6 off 50 overs was going to be difficult to defend.

Professional Brad Flegg was the undoubted backbone of the reply for he remained unbeaten and went on to amass an excellent 67 runs with only Dave Wass of the remaining players getting into double figures.

A mini collapse, when Ghulam Haider and Chris Sutcliffe both failed to score, raised Radcliffe hopes but that man Flegg couldn't be winkled out, the home side generously handed out 42 extras and although they lost eight wickets, Stand clinched four points in the 48th over.

A splendid win over the Central Lancashire League leaders and cup holders was achieved with all of the Unsworth players putting in optimum effort.

The Parr Laner looked as if they were trying to win for after losing the toss and being put in the field, they ensured visitors Rochdale were not allowed sufficient runs.

Tight bowling and fielding allied to good catching was the order of the day and two spectacular catches from Paul Manley and another from John Harrison behind the sticks set the tone.

Harrison also achieved a pair of stumpings off Alan Haworth, the bowler sharing the 50 overs with professional Pasan Wanansinghe.

Haworth swung the ball well to finish with 5 for 58 while the Sri Lankan's pace brought him 4 for 75 as only Rochdale skipper John Henderson got to grips with the home attack.

Unsworth then found batting equally difficult for Oddy was a real handful. Fast and accurate he had 4 for 24 after 15 overs.

The home side were tottering but Wanansinghe stood firm and his bowling ally, Haworth, also refused to surrender and they put on 71 runs before the latter was trapped leg before.

Gary Jones was equally determined and with Wanansinghe including a six hit over the top of the score-box in his unbeaten 72, the home side collect four well-earned points.

MICK "Chuck" O'Rourke crossed the 1,000 threshold on Saturday and helped Greenmount to another Bolton League success.

The big-hitting Aussie needed 40 against Little Lever to reach the milestone and obliged with a superb knock of 98 before being caught and bowled just before his century.

That contribution helped Greenmount to 233 for 9 with Andy Williams cracking a useful 54.

It looked like the village side were going to pay a high price for four early dropped catches when Lever appeared to be in line for a draw but Mark Stewart saved the day with the final wicket with the last ball of the match, dismissing former Greenmount wicketkeeper Paul Blinkhorn.

Stewart finished with fine figures of 7 for 61.