RAMSBOTTOM would like their New Zealand professional Chris Harris to return to Acre Bottom for a fourth season - and who can blame them?

The talented all-rounder put in yet another match-winning performance on Sunday, this time against valley rivals and LANCASHIRE LEAGUE leaders Haslingden.

With the inclusion of former Rams pairing of Jack Simpson and Steve Dearden in the visitors line-up, what is always a keenly contested affair had an even sharper edge at Acre Bottom on Sunday.

The twosome played major roles in a comfortable win for the league leaders at Bent Gate in May.

But there was to be no repeat performance on this occasion as both went cheaply with kingpin Harris taking 6 for 55 and Chris Hall 3 for 34 to reduce Haslingden to 121 all out.

Only a dogged 49 from veteran Mick Ingham saved the league leaders from complete humiliation.

The Kiwi then made Haslingden pay the price for dropping him on 13 to guide the Rams home with an unbeaten 39, skipper Ian Bell also chipping in with an excellent 34.

In the BOLTON LEAGUE Greenmount professional Richard Chee Quee blasted 76 then took 4 for 75 with the ball as the villagers fought out a draw against bottom of the table Little Lever.

Aussie Andy Downton (33) and youngster Bobby Horrocks (34 not out) were also crucial to their total of 182 for 6 but the strugglers held out at 163 for 6 in the rain-restricted game.

At Heaton a day later Captain Gary Chadwick's continued in his rich vein of form with the bat with a superb unbeaten 105.

Chadwick hit ten fours and four sixes in a century partnership with Bobby Horrocks (26) but the Brandlesholme Road side's 178 for 6 was well short of the home side's 226 (Chee Quee 4-75, Horrocks 2-28).

CENTRAL LANCASHIRE LEAGUE bottom club Radcliffe came back from the dead on Sunday to gain a welcome five points.

Facing local rivals Stand the game looked up for the Racecourse side when the Hamilton Road club's paid man Mike Warden took 6 for 32 to reduce them to 96 all out.

At 54 for 2 everything looked rosy for Stand until a devastating spell of bowling from Warden's opposite number Peter Skuse (5-44) and Sardar Shah (5-32) rocked them on their heels to leave them six runs short of a winning total.

Against Walsden on Saturday Radcliffe put up a brave fight chasing the visitors' 188 for 6.

Youngster Damien Keegan led the way with 52 but the task proved too much for the lower order batsmen and the innings crumbled a tantalising 13 runs short of victory.

Stand travelled to Oldham on Saturday, set a target of 127, and looked to have the upper hand when they had the home side on 4 for 2. However, Oldham rallied and comfortably overhauled the total with three wickets to spare.

Unsworth's mixed fortunes continued as they struggled to get their batting together.

On Saturday they came up against high-flying Werneth whose captain John Punchard was in top form.

He helped himself to five wickets as Unsworth pro Ramanayake top-scored with 43 of the Parr Lane side's 138. Ramanayake then showed his bowling prowess, taking 4 for 54 but it wasn't enough as Werneth claimed the five points with more than seven overs to spare.

On Sunday, in a reduced weather-affected 28-over game, the Parr Laners got the better of second-from-bottom opponents Ashton by just one run.

Ashton skipper Dave Mellor took an amazing eight wickets for 37 runs as Unsworth struggled to build up a big score. Only Mark Manley made an impression with a useful 55 of their total of 105.

Ramanayake and Manley combined to keep Ashton's total in check and in a tense finish they finished one run short running out of overs as the Parr Laners celebrated a four point win.

Unlucky Walshaw went down to a nine run BOLTON ASSOCIATION defeat at Little Hulton on Saturday.

Chasing the home side's 145 total (S. Bamford 4 for 26) they found Hulton professional Lal Faraz in determined mood and his figures of 6 for 51 were instrumental in reducing the Sycamore Road side to 136 all out.

There was better news for Elton who had the best of a drawn game at Astley and Tyldesley.

Professional Darron Foy top scored with 52 out of the Leigh Lane side's 181 for 8 and victory looked a distinct possibility until an eighth wicket partnership of 60 saved the day for A & T who held out fot 152 for 8.

On Sunday Elton earned themselves a Vimto Trophy semi-final clash with Darcy Lever after defeating Daisy Hill on their own patch.

The Bury side's 161 (T. Ahmed 38) always looked like being too much for Daisy who slid to 130 all out.

Bury had a day they will want to forget in the MANCHESTER ASSOCIATION after watching Ashton-on-Mersey run up a score of 217 for 7 they were well and truly put through the mixer as Dave Thomas (5 for 15) and Carl MacDonald (4-14) skittled the Sports Club lads to a paltry 34 all out.

Brooksbottoms also found the going tough at the weekend. They entertained Lytham at Rowlands Road and went down to a six-wicket defeat.

The visitors' latest signing Chris Sainsbury was their tormentor-in-chief and his 5 for 23 haul was a major reason why the Brox innings slumped to 91.

In the RIBBLESDALE LEAGUE Edenfield held onto fifth position in the league with a 41 run victory over Baxenden.

The Gincroft Lane side made a slightly disappointing 156 for 8 from their reduced 44 overs but soon had the visitors in trouble with both openers back in the shed for eight runs.

Skipper Brett Storey took the bowling honours with 4 for 26 as the Baxenden total petered out to 115 for 9.

Woodbank had paceman Chris Humphreys to thank for their LANCASHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE victory with an 8 for 51 haul that reduced Denton West to 151 all out.

Earlier Neil Ridehaugh (58) and Wayne Griffiths (42 not out) had led the way for the home side who had set a target of 190 for 7.

Woodbank had paceman Chris Humphreys to thank for their LANCASHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE victory with an 8 for 51 haul that reduced Denton West to 151 all out.

Earlier Neil Ridehaugh (58) and Wayne Griffiths (42 not out) had led the way for the home side who had set a target of 190 for 7.

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