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Ramsbottom have high hopes of recapturing league crown

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 08:55:37 -0000

Ramsbottom Cricket Club have signed Nelson quick bowler Sam Alstead from Nelson.

"He will be a good acquisition to an already strong bowling squad," said captain Jon Fielding, whose side won the Worsley Cup and the Twenty20 competition last season but the Lancashire League title eluded them after winning it in 2010.

Coetzee is Rawtenstall new man

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 07:55:43 -0000

Rawtenstall Cricket Club have snapped up their professional for the new season in African Jandre Coetzee.

The 27 year-old plays for Griqualand West alongside Enfield pro Werner Coetsee, who is returning next season to Dill Hall Lane.

Pro Malan is ready for Ramsbottom challenge

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 07:55:58 -0000

Ramsbottom Cricket Club’s new professional Pieter Malan is ready for the Lancashire League challenge.

The South African is hoping to help Jon Fielding’s men reclaim the league title next summer. He comes with a top-class pedigree, becoming the first player to reach 1,000 runs in the Northern League for Barrow and was recommended by former Acrebottom paid man Francois Du Plessis.

Pros snapped up to boost squads

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 07:56:02 -0000

Two of the valley’s cricket teams have already bolstered their squad for next season by snapping up professionals.

Ramsbottom have signed South African batsman Pieter Malan while Haslingden have secured young New Zealander Harry Boam.

Rams win but it’s Lowerhouse who are in driving seat for title

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 07:55:21 -0000

Ramsbottom won comfortably at home to Enfield on Saturday but their hopes of a clean sweep are virtually over as retaining the title now looks beyond their grasp.

Enfield posted 162 all out as skipper Adam Bracewell hit 48 and there were useful contibutions from Sagawat Hussain (29) and Asif Fazal (24).

Haslingden will regroup for next season

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 07:55:16 -0000

Haslingden were clinically beaten by Accrington who look the only side that can realistically deny Lowerhouse the title.

But even that would require a Devon Loch-style collapse by the Burnley outfit similar to that which afflicted Haslingden’s run-in two years ago – when Accrington pipped them to the title on the final day.

Rams title charge looks too late

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 07:56:11 -0000

Ramsbottom put a dent in Accrington’s title tilt on Saturday but it was runaway leaders Lowerhouse who had most reason to celebrate that victory as the Acre Bottom outfit look to have left it too late to claim a clean sweep of the 2011 honours.

Accrington had to keep winning to maintain pressure on Lowerhouse but it was one of the Lancashire League’s most reliable old stagers who did for them at Thorneyholme Road.

Farragher hopes for repeat

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 07:56:09 -0000

Bacup stalwart Tim Farragher is hoping that history may repeat itself after leading his side to a derby victory over Rawtenstall on Sunday.

Farragher, 28, made his debut aged 17 in the first of Bacup’s three title campaigns at the turn of the millennium and sees a lot of how a largely unfancied mix of journeymen and youngsters were transformed into champions in the current team.

Subs sink rest

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 07:56:17 -0000

David Warren admits his side have come a long way from finishing bottom of the Lancashire League last season. They are now chasing the honour of being the top Valley side as they look for a top four finish.

And this is after being reliant on sub pros after Jon-Jon Smuts went home for the South African Emerging Nations squad early in the campaign.

An all-round headache for Hassy

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 07:56:15 -0000

Graham Knowles has joked about getting Shane Warne in for a few games next season as he looks to boost Haslingden’s bowling attack.

The skipper admits the Bentgate side have struggled this season, especially losing bowler Sardar ‘Eddy’ Shah to an elbow injury and he will probably not play again this season.

Worsley Cup win brings clean sweep for Ramsbottom

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 07:56:31 -0000

Ramsbottom have the distinction of having a clean sweep of the Lancashire League trophies after securing the Worsley Cup.

Jon Fielding’s side added the league’s cup to their trophy cabinet on Sunday with a solid team show against Church in a six-wicket win.

Four-up for Bell

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 07:56:28 -0000

Alex Bell was delighted to hit the winning runs to secure the Worsley Cup for Ramsbottom.

Bell, who now has four Worsley Cup winners medals at Acre Bottom, admitted: "Winning in a final is always so good and hitting the four to seal it was special."

Stewart’s future is still up in the air

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 07:56:26 -0000

Shanan Stewart is still thinking over his Ramsbottom future – but his time at Acre Bottom will certainly be memorable for him.

The New Zealander will return home in September with three winners medals from the Colne Trophy, the Twenty20 and now Sunday’s Worsley Cup.

Read’s spectacular catch helps secure Rams' fifth Cup victory in the last decade

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 07:56:25 -0000

There were plenty of vital contributions on the way to Ramsbottom winning the Worsley Cup but Rob Read’s spectacular catch was certainly one of the turning points.

The fielder was out on the boundary near the Church changing rooms, probably just waiting for the break as the home side closed in on completing their innings.

Andy is less of a Payne for his captain

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 07:56:23 -0000

Vinny Hanson admits the longer Andy Payne bats the more it suits him - and it’s not just because he is in the runs.

"It’s because he is grumpy!" said the Rawtenstall skipper. "As long as he is out there, it means he isn’t giving me grief as he is a nightmare if he is out early!"