LLOYD Ferreira smashed a Rawtenstall professional batting record and didn't even know.

What's more, the South African didn't even care - as long as his team won the match, which they did.

After blitzing the Church attack with a sizzling unbeaten 154 last Sunday, the only thing on Ferreira's mind as he prepares for tomorrow's EW Cartons Lancashire League match at Ramsbottom, is to maintain the Rawtenstall revival.

They finished third from bottom last summer. But, already this year, there are signs of an improvement under the new professional's guidance.

"I wasn't aware it was a record when it happened, though I think someone might have mentioned it afterwards," said Ferreira, whose match-winning innings was the highest-ever score by a Rawtenstall professional.

"Besides, I don't really see myself as a record-breaking player. I am not too fazed by it, I just wanted to win the game.

"Records don't mean anything. People tend to go on about the past but things are coming up in the future.

"Someone will come along and break it anyway."

How does it rate alongside his other major innings in club cricket?

"I haven't got a clue. I can't even remember games in league cricket never mind scores I have made in the past," he said with a likeable indifference. "But I suppose it must be among the better ones.

"They (Church) dropped me in the eighties and I believe you have to make them pay for that."

The Western Province all-rounder's attitude looks like it could be good for Rawtenstall this season and he intends to show the same single-minded commitment to the team cause on his first visit to Ramsbottom.

He is pleased by the improvement in the weather but seems to take everything in his stride.

"Every game's a debut for me at the moment," he said. "But, when you walk out, there's a wicket there and, whatever it's like, you have to bat on it.

"The weather is better at last and the ball is now starting to swing as well. It just feels great to be a professional at a nice, happy little club.

"The main thing for us is to be positive and do a lot better than in the recent past.

"I have told the team we will always be judged on our last performance. Just as long as everyone is positive and we all learn from the games that's okay."

Saturday's matches: Bacup v Haslingden, Burnley v East Lancs, Enfield v Colne, Nelson v Accrington, Ramsbottom v Rawtenstall, Rishton v Lowerhouse, Todmorden v Church.

Rawtenstall batsman Glen Barlow is just 14 away from reaching 10,000 Lancashire League runs. He has played just over 500 games, averaging around 23, with six centuries and 45 half-centuries in an outstanding amateur career.

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