RAMSBOTTOM missed a golden opportunity to gain revenge for the previous week's defeat when they dramatically tied Saturday's LANCASHIRE LEAGUE derby clash at bottom of the table Rawtenstall.

But the careless Rams only had themselves to blame.

Going into the final over needing four to win with five wickets in hand only the most jaundiced Rawtenstall supporter would have put money on his side getting anything out of the match.

Experienced spinner Keith Roscoe was given the thankless task of salvaging something and when three runs were plundered off the first two balls the writing looked on the wall for the home side.

But fortune swung the game Rawtenstall's way when Gary Dyson played back Roscoe's next two deliveries then was stumped going for a big hit leaving Mark Dentith to face the final ball.

Roscoe then set the cat among the pigeons by running out non-striker Alan Howarth as he went to deliver the ball, seeing the Rams batsman backing up a distance down the track.

Given out by the umpire the Rawtenstall bowler called the batsman back before eventually delivering the final ball, Dentith went down the track to it, didn't get bat onto ball, found himself stumped - and that was that!

The drama arrived as early as the fifth over when Rams wicketkeeper Richard Hevingham had to be helped off the field and given hospital treatment after being hit in the face by a Chris Harris delivery.

Rawtenstall professional Ian Hewett then put in his best batting performance of the season to hit 62 as the home side made a useful start.

But 134 for 3 became 139 for 9 and ultimately a target of 152 as Harris picked up figures of 6 for 68.

In reply Brian Taylor (65) and Chris Hall (39) were the backbone of what should have been a Ramsbottom victory but that one elusive run proved to be costly in the extreme.

Up the road at Greenmount there was plenty of cause for cheer as two victories earned them forty vital BOLTON LEAGUE points.

What should have been a cake walk at Horwich on Saturday proved to be anything but as the villagers chased the home side's meagre total of 91 all out.

As wickets tumbled it was the steadying influence of skipper Gary Chadwick (32 not out) that saved the day and it took a dramatic last ball boundary from Andy Sidley to secure the win.

On Sunday at Brandlesholme Road, Farnworth were put to the sword by 44 runs after Australian amateur Andy Downton hit 59 and professional Richard Chee Quee (49) top-scored in the league's highest total of the day 212.

Chee Quee then proved his worth with the ball taking 4 for 52 as the visitors were sent packing for 168.

At the other end of the scale there seems to be no end to Radcliffe's run of bad results in the CENTRAL LANCASHIRE LEAGUE.

On Saturday a fine bowling display from Rochdale's Steve Oddy (5 for 38) put paid to any chance the Racecoursemen had of putting one over on the league leaders.

In a match rain reduced to 37 overs they struggled to 119 all out, a total that should have been comfortably attained by the high-flyers.

But the young strugglers battled well and Rochdale were happy to scrape home by three wickets.

The weather put paid to Stand's weekend exertions but Unsworth fell by the wayside when they were dismissed for 100 chasing Norden's total of 163 for 5. In the BOLTON ASSOCIATION on Saturday both Elton and Walshaw hit the run trail only to have their games curtailed by the rain.

Elton ran up 236 for 2 as professional Darron Foy hit an unbeaten 132 (see photocaption left) but the weather forshortened Blackrod's reply on 90 for 2.

It was a similar story for Walshaw who scored 217 for 4 at British Aerospace.

Charles Dagnall (69) headed the run-getters before Aerospace were halted in their tracks on 126 for 2.

When the Sycamore Road club travelled to Golborne a day later it was a far happier state of affairs.

Coach Dagnall was again influential finishing with figures of 4 for 47 as the reigning champions were comprehensively dismissed for 154.

He then put on 65 with the bat after a shaky start saw skipper Rob Faulkner and professional Simon Bamford both dismissed for ducks, to set his side on course for victory.

Elton paid man Foy also carried on where he left twenty-four hours earlier hitting 66 as his side comfortably overtook Adlington's 111 total at Leigh Lane.

Paceman Gareth Williams had done the damage earlier in the day with superb 7 for 44 haul.

Two local sides looking to secure places in the finals of their respective knockout competitions were found wanting on Sunday.

In the RIBBLESDALE LEAGUE Edenfield travelled to Blackburn-based Cherry Tree in a bid to reach the Ramsbottom Cup final for the first time.

They were soon in trouble as Cherry Tree professional Naeem Ashraf took three quick wickets to send Edenfield reeling on 23 for 4.

A sterling innings of 67 from Michael Hawke took the Gincroft Lane side to 147.

That total looked as though it might suffice when the league leaders crumbled to 67 for 5 but a match-winning unbeaten 58 by Lee Kennedy put Cherry Tree in the driving seat and into the final.

In league action at Whalley on Saturday Edenfield picked up five valuable points when they overcame the home side's 104 for 9 total for the loss of only four wickets.

LANCASHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE Woodbank put in a disappointing showing for their home Walkden Cup semi-final tie against Thornham.

It was a tall order for the side from the Kenyons once the visiting attack had taken advantage of a slow track to run up a total of 174 for 8.

In reply Chris Humphreys' 24 was the best Woodbank could muster as they slid to a miserable 94 all out after 38 overs.

They put in a far better batting performance twenty-four hours earlier when they overcame a not inconsiderable target of 203 at Longsight.

A fourth wicket stand of 106 between Neil Holder (78) and Humphreys (41 not out) saw Woodbank home and dry just before the forty over mark.

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