RAMSBOTTOM will bid to bounce back from defeat in the semi-final of the Worsley Cup by making the last four of the LCB Knockout this weekend.

Tom Parton's men will go into Sunday's quarter-final tie at home to Lancashire League rivals Church as favourites to progress following a good run of recent results, barring that Worsley Cup loss to Darwen earlier this month.

They maintained their form in the league last weekend with a 25-run victory at home to Bacup, who had been on a decent run of their own.

Parton led the way with 52 from 103 balls, including five fours, while pro Grant Thomson chipped in with 30, but Ramsbottom looked to be short on runs after being bowled out for 138.

The Rams' lower order was undone by Bacup professional Ernest Kemm, who took 5-39, while Matt Ramshead mopped up the rest with 4-30.

Kemm made the single he needed to reach 500 runs for the season but then fell to Jake Neary in Bacup's reply.

Simon Read took 3-19 as all six of Ramsbottom's bowlers shared the wickets to dismiss Bacup for 113. Matt Thompson was Bacup's leading scorer with 29.