ALTHOUGH this Meadows clash brought together the two teams immediately behind Rishton in the table, it often had the feel of watching those early starters on the final day of the Open.

Entertaining and competitive it may have been, but there was a constant feeling that neither was going to catch the runaway leaders.

Small wonder then that news of Rishton's Greg Norman-like collapse, shortly after East Lancs wrapped up a five point haul, was greeted deliriously by fans and players of the home side.

No one is likely to brand a team containing Allan Donald as 'chokers' - no one with any sense anyway - but East Lancs skipper Mark Lomas was quietly pleased that shock events over the Grane have opened the title race up a little.

"We've got to keep winning and chipping away if they slip up," reflected Lomas. "If that happens we're in with a shout. We've got Rishton to play again and they've also got Ramsbottom, who've already beaten them."

Lomas was pleased enough with his side's total although a score of nearer 200 had looked on as that most consistent of openers David Pearson added a fine half-century to his ton at Enfield 24 hours earlier. After posting an opening stand of 50 with Phil Bolton, the left-hander - in the runs for Cumberland in midweek - stroked six boundaries in his 54 off 90 balls before holing out to Stephen Dearden.

Ramsbottom pro Chris Harris was wicketless for once and it was the introduction of young spinners Chris Hall and Garfield Moreton which put the brakes on.

Hall, 16, stalled the progress with wickets at regular intervals with his off-spin while left-armer Moreton will bowl worse and pick up wickets he deserved here.

Pro Billy Stelling had to work for his valuable 36 not out and he and Nasir Iqbal warmed up for opening bowling duties by posting an unbroken stand of 37 in the dying overs.

What a pleasure it is to see Harris and Co wheel through the overs quickly too, and the containing job might have been more effective but for some slack fielding by the visitors.

Ramsbottom also got to the half-century mark without loss, but chasing teams have tended to have the worst of the Meadows wickets this season. And the Acre Bottom men got themselves in all sorts of trouble with the score on 53, losing both openers and disastrously, the paid man.

Simpson was pouched at slip by Lomas as Stelling opted for a change of ends.

Then wily Ian Haworth had Ian Bell caught behind off a feint leg-side nick, with Egan also claiming a stumping, but receiving the nod from the bowler's end umpire.

Harris was run out after backing up and slipping, his opposite number scoring a direct hit.

Dearden got things moving with some lusty blows, but Nick Riley threw the bat once too often and was bowled neck and crop before Matthew Egan just held an edge at full stretch, Dearden clearly - but wrongly in my view - of the opinion the ball had bounced. The uproarious reception of the home supporters was met by a gesture more usually associated with a former showjumper.

Stelling and Kelly accounted for the tail, Egan adding successive stumpings to wrap the innings up.

Ramsbottom do look to have unearthed a prospect in young Hall, who reflected: "I got my first wicket with a bad ball, but did all right after that. I had a bit of luck, but Garfield didn't have much."

"He looks like being a great bowler if he keeps that up," added Lomas.

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