Sunday 25th July: A True All-round Performance
Junior League: Ramsbottom 223-7 v Todmorden 85 (won by 138 runs)
Twelve well earned points and a MVP headache for me! Taking first knock Ramsbottom posted 223-7 with Tom Parton 88 & Andy Holt 59. But then it was the turn of the bowlers, 5 bowlers used, 5 excellent sets of figures. Toby McLean 7-2-8-2, Jack Walmsley 9-4-14-2, Dale Gabriel 7-3-19-2, Matty Lees 4-0-19-1 & Charlie Hamilton 5.4-0-19-3. Twelve more points and the top of the table is still within reach.

      Tom Parton

Saturday 24th July: All-round Batting Performance Sees Off Rawtenstall
Junior League: Rawtenstall 79-4 v Ramsbottom 230 (won on run rate)
In a game that was halted by the rain, Rammy came out on top when the calculations were made. Batting first Ramsbottom posted a total of 230 with Chris Wood 30, Tom Parton 20, Andy Holt 78 & Jordan Shannon 29. The Rawtenstall reply was halted by the weather with them well behind the required rate. Jack Walmsley helping keep that down with figures of 2-8 from 7 overs.

     Andy Holt

Sun 11th July: Another Big Win For Seconds
Junior League: Ramsbottom 267-6 v Enfield 193 (won by 74 runs)
An all-round batting performance with veteran Mark Dentith leading the way with a knock of 81. Chris Wood (10) and Tom Parton (37) set the ball rolling before Denty & then Richard Rothwell with an unbeaten 79 capped it off. Rammy 267-6. Toby McLean then had Enfield 2-2 in the first over. Then he and Jack Walmsley (2-39) finished them off, Toby finishing with 5-48) Enfield all out 74 runs shy.  

      Mark Dentith

Sat 3rd July: Big, Big Win at Bacup
Junior League: Bacup 77 v Ramsbottom 278-8 (won by 201 runs)
A good all round performance against a Bacup side admittedly suffering from injuries was still very impressive. Batting first Rammy racked up 278 runs with an unbeaten 150 from Andy Holt. Jordan Shannon (37) and former Bacup legend John Chapman with 33 pushed the total on. Bacup never got going and the game was virtually up at 5 for 4. Finally falling 201 runs short, not helped by losing two players to injury.

        Andy Holt

Sun 27th June: Slip up at Church
Junior League: Church 184 v Ramsbottom 141 (lost by 43 runs)
This was one that got away. After dismissing table topping Church for 184 with Jack Walmsley 3-47, Andy Whittle 3-9 & two wickets each for Dale Gabriel & Jordan Shannon. A win looked possible. Rammy got off to a solid start, but when 23-0 became 27-3 it looked a tall order. But the middle order steered Rammy back on course with Matty Lees (17), Dale Gabriel (45) & Andy Whittle (22) but they just couldn't hold on and fell well short in the end.

      Andy Whittle

Sun 20th June: Anything the firsts can do, we can do as well!!
Junior League: Ramsbottom 273-4 v Colne 192 (won by 82 runs)
In a result that mirrored the first XI, the seconds won on performance. 273-4 was racked up with skipper Chris Wood scoring a century, 100 exactly. Tom Parton with a half century, 50 exactly. Shared a opening wkt stand of 115. Andy Holt & Richard Rothwell both scored 20 while Robert Read was unbeaten on 62 at the close of the innings. The Colne reply never looked capable of reaching the massive target, but they made a good go. Toby McLean 4-44 & Matty Lees 3-28 the stand out bowlers with Colne all out 192 for another Rammy 82 run win on the day.

      Chris Wood

Sun 13th June: Wash out at Haslingden
Junior League: Haslingden DNB v Ramsbottom 72-1 (match abandoned)
With Chris Wood 33 not out & Andy Holt 29 not out rain washed out this game with Rammy 72-1.

Sun 6th June: Shaky Shocks Burnley, As Rammy Come Back from The Dead
Junior League: Ramsbottom 221-8 v Burnley 220-6 (won by 2 wkts)
Burnley got off to a slow start with Andy Hakin & Matty Lees conceding just 5 runs from 6 overs. But once in there stride they racked up the runs setting Rammy a target of 220-6. Andy Hakin 4-49 from 12 overs. The Ramsbottom reply got off to a stuttering start with wickets at regular interval's. Sam Price (19),  Matty Lees (24) kept it going, but at 126-7 with 12 overs left it looked a tall order. But an important 22 from Jordan Shannon and a superb innings of 71 not out from man of the match Andy Hakin carried Rammy over the finishing line.

         Andy Hakin

Sat 5th June: So near so far
Junior Cup: Ramsbottom 248-8 v Church 250-5 (lost by 2 runs)
At one stage Church looked like they had runaway with this game at 163 without loss. But Rammy managed to stem the flow and Church finished on 250-5, a formidable target. Rammy got off to a surprisingly slow start considering the challenge ahead, 18-1 from 8 overs. but skipper Chris Wood kick started the innings in the 9th with 3 consecutive fours. When Sam Price was out for 38 Robert Read (45) took up the mantle with a 98 run 3rd wicket partnership with the skipper. Matty Lees (31) & Dale Gabriel (25) kept Rammy in the hunt. Andy Hakin (10) & Andy Whittle (12) took the chase to the last ball of the innings, but the 3 required from the last ball was just out of reach.
        Chris Wood

Sun 30th May: Rick Rocks Rishton
Junior League: Rishton 116 v Ramsbottom 117-3 (won by 7 wkts)
A quick fire, unbeaten 54 from Rick Rothwell blew away Rishton inside 18 overs. Set a target of 116 to win after Andy Hakin 4-34 & Dale Gabriel 3-9 dismissed our hosts. Rick Rothwell & Robert Read (31) put on 82 for the second wicket has Rammy secured 12 valuble points

     Richard Rothwell

Sat 22 May: Ramsbottom Send Hassy Packing
Junior League: Ramsbottom 133-8 v Haslingden 132 (won by 2wkts)
A late burst from Toby McLean ended any hope Haslingden had in this game. Toby finishing with 5-51 following on from Dale Gabriel's early 3 wicket haul for 22 runs. The Ramsbottom reply was never really convincing, even though victory was achieved with 18 overs to spare. Wickets started to fall towards the end when a wobble set in. Chris Wood (37) & Matty Lees (35) had taken the score to 82-2, but then six wickets fell for just 33 runs until a good knock from Andy Whittle (17no) eased Rammy home.

       Toby McLean

Sun 16th May: Hammered At Enfield
Junior League: Enfield 191-7 v Ramsbottom 91 ( lost by 100 runs)
This was a big defeat for Chris Wood's team. Set a target of 191-7, helped by Matty Lees 3-43. Ramsbottom's reply never got anywhere near. Only a score of 37 by Tom Parton helped keep the total up, but not enough as a one hundred run defeat was recorded.

       Tom Parton

Sun 9th May: Rawtenstall Enjoy the 12 Points
Junior League: Ramsbottom 184 v Rawtenstall 199-8 (lost by 15 runs)
Rawtenstall's second XI made it a happy day all round for our valley rivals. Despite the efforts of wicketkeeper Tom Paton  (returning from county duty with North Lancashire yesterday) making  4 stumping's and one catch. and Dale Gabriel's 6-41 in restricting our visitors to 199 a very young (Chappy excepted) side fell agonisingly short at 184 to claiming a well deserved win. Richard Rothwell (49) & John Chapman (28) top scorers

    Tom Parton

Sat 8th May: Stand-in Skipper Chappy Smacks Tod
Junior League: Todmorden 155 v Ramsbottom 172 (won by 27 runs)
This is the Chappy we know! After a rocky start with Richard Rothwell (27) the only score of note. Out strides stand-in skipper John Chapman and 6 fours & 4 sixes and 72 runs later Rammy have posted a target of 172 for our bowlers to play with. And a all-round bowling performance did the trick. Toby McLean 3-41, Andy Whittle 3-25, Jordan Shannon 2-51 & Dale Gabriel 2-32 dismissing Tod for 155, 27 short of there target......


        John Chapman
Sun 2nd May : Back to winning ways
Junior League : Lowerhouse 182-8 v Ramsbottom 224 (won by 32 runs)
Mark Dentith continued his flying start to the season, the "veteran" hitting 80. But the Ramsbottom total was really given some substance with a 9th wicket stand of 42 between Jack Walmsley 44 not out & Charlie Hamilton 15, to reach 224 before the final wicket fell in the last over. Andy Hakin & Jack Walmsley had the hosts under early pressure, Andy Hakin 2-6 from 9 overs. Andy finished the day with a 5 wicket haul (5-33) that put an end to the Lowerhouse run chase. Dale Gabriel also tying down the home side with 2-29 from his 11 overs. One interesting fact, of the 8 Lowerhouse wickets to fall, none fell to a catch. 5 Bowled & 3 LBW, consistent straight bowling by the Ramsbottom bowlers!
       Andy Hakin

Sat 1st May : Dale Dazzles East Lancs
Junior League : Ramsbottom 174 v East Lancashire 217 (lost by 43 runs)
After a solid start by the Rammy bowlers restricting East Lancs to 86-5 the two veterans of the visiting team made a 96 run partnership and took this game just beyond Rammy's reach despite some tidy bowling from Dale Gabriel with 4-52 from his 9.3 overs. The Ramsbottom cause not helped by an injury to Toby McLean. A change to the Ramsbottom batting order from last weeks successful line-up didn't work and Rammy where struggling from the off with Andy Holt, Sam Price & John Chapman back in the dressing room with just 11 runs on the board. Man of the match Dale Gabriel (43), Tom Parton (21) & Andy Hakin (36) helped prolong the agony, but the East Lancs target proved just to much.
    Dale Gabriel