TO say there was relief in the dressing room after Saturday's win was an understatement.

The funny thing is though, after ending our losing run all of a sudden I found myself looking at the table wondering whether we could qualify for next season's Lancashire Knockout.

It might be a seven-point gap between Greenmount in eighth and Denton St Lawrence in the last Lancs KO place in fourth, but with six games to play we have got something to play for and that is what we wanted when joining the Greater Manchester League.

To be fair, I don't think anyone expected us to be looking over our shoulders at this point, fearing the drop, but it is so tight in there.

We went into last weekend's game hovering above the relegation places, but all our rivals lose and suddenly we have a six-point cushion.

The thing is that there is no room for complacency. Every team seems capable of beating every other team. Even the leaders, Egerton, who I think will win the title, almost came a cropper against second-bottom Unsworth on Saturday.

Everyone I have spoken with from opposing sides have agreed that the standard is higher in the GMCL Premier Division from what they were used to, and that is not just because of the threat of relegation.

Some of the rules introduced have had a big impact as well.

For me personally, the limit of 15 overs a game put on bowlers has been positive.

Yes it saves my legs, which is great, but I did not mind bowling 20 or 25 overs a match in the Bolton League because I loved bowling.

What it means is that the second tier bowlers know that they are going to see some action almost every game. That means they will turn up properly switched on and more eager to get involved.

It must have been hard at times, turning up to a match against some of the lesser sides in the Bolton League knowing you probably would not be called upon, knowing me and Phil Heaton would probably bowl out the opposition for 70-odd and the opening batsmen would knock off the runs.

It hasn't been like that this season, and I think the standard of bowling across the board has been much higher as a result, meaning games have been more competitive.

That is what we wanted, it's more exciting, but I don't mind saying I'm still mighty relieved to get that win.