Saturday 25 July

CHURCH 175 for 7

ENFIELD 109 All Out

Sunday 26th - Ramsbottom v Church abandoned No Result

You would have got decent odds on a 12-point Church when the home side, in a poor run of form of late, slumped to 53 for five with almost half of the overs gone.

But Kiwi pro Luke Woodcock finally showed his true pedigree with an innings that, as so often since his arrival, had to rein in his attacking instincts for the good of the side.

Luke's unbeaten 86 occupied 47 overs and it was not until the last ten that he was truly able to open his shoulders.

But a crucial sixth-wicket partnership of 77 - the best stand for any wicket in the league for Church this season  - with Phil Sykes was effectively the difference between the sides as Woodcock followed a patient 50 with a late assault on the Enfield bowlers.

Sykes made 30 and Woodcock struck nine 4s and a six as Church amassed 175, 74 coming in those final ten overs.

Andy Bentley removed one of Enfield's ex-Church openers, Chris Maudsley, to make it 50 wickets in League and Worsley Cup, but the early introduction of Philip Gilrane , as so often, proved profitable as Craig Fergusson holed out to Bentley.

There was even better news in the captain's next over when the dangerous Adam Bracewell gave Liam Brankin some gratefully-accepted catching practice.

The Enfield innings was almost exactly mirroring Church's effort as Bentley and Gilrane strangled the run rate and crucially their pro Brent finally miscued his inevitable effort to break the stranglehold, Brankin clinging onto a far harder chance.

Gilrane got Wrigley and Burns to edges to ensure a collection and after a stand between the resilient Andy Barker and captain David Bracewell the skipper claimed a sixth wicket when Woodcock took a simple catch to end the latter's knock.

It should have been seven for for Gilly had Sag not inexplicably spilled one from Barker but a run out and a final flourish from Woodcock - two wickets in two balls - made it a maximum haul and a welcome return for that winning feeling.

Luke Woodcock 86 not out

Phil Sykes  30

Adam Greenwood 18

Philip Gilrane 16-4-50-6

Luke Woodcock 8.2-1-16-2

A Bentley 12-6-17-1

Sunday's game at Ramsbottom was abandoned just three balls in - wet conditions prevented a start till almost 3.45pm and, wouldn't you just know it, halfway through Luke Woodcock's opening over, with Rammy 2 without loss, the heavens opened again to end any chance of a game. Replay date Saturday 5 September