Ramsbottom secured a comfortable home win against Todmorden on Saturday before crashing out of the Lancashire Knockout on Sunday.

The match against Todmorden was built on the foundations of a classy but resilient 98 not out by Calum Kay who batted from first ball to last. This was an innings of some distinction and fueled by the flurry of extras the Ramsbottom innings got off to a flying start reaching 90 off the first 20 overs with young Kay and pro Daryn Smit well established.

The loss of Smit lbw for 32 with the score on 108 had the potential to set alarms bells ringing with the prospect of a score of 170 not being enough but Martin Cropper (38) got quickly into his stride with three 4s in the same over. He and Kay cruised on taking 86 of the next 17 overs. Dale Gabriel hit a rapid 22 to take the score to an imposing 241-4.

In reply Todmorden were never at the races, and by the time Ramsbottom had raced through the first 20 overs to ensure the result they were so far behind the run rate that only an implosion could possibly threaten the win.

As it was Simon Read, bowling as well las ever, removed the Todmorden pro lbw for 20 before Smit got to work to finish with 6-22 off 15 overs.

The Rams slipped to a disappointing defeat against a well organised Glossop side who outplayed them in every facet of the game.

The hosts got off to an aggressive start and with some fortuitous shots the writing was on the scoreboard.

At 120-3 halfway through their innings the home team looked well set for a score of 250 or more and to their credit Ramsbottom did well to hold their hosts to 210 with some tighter bowling from Daryn Smit at one and a combination of Simon Read and Micheal Haslam at the other in the last 15 or so overs.

On a good pitch and a large outfield that should have been by no means an over challenging score but some clueless decision making with the batting order meant that with 15 overs gone and three wickets down the asking rate for Ramsbottom was already approaching six an over.

When Smit fell to a bizarre run the travelling supporters and the rest of the Ramsbottom batters into despair.

Smit was quickly followed by Cropper caught low down to a half-hearted drive and he in turn by captain Read dismally run out on an unanswered call for a quick but risky run. A late flurry of runs from Andy Whittle, Tom Booth and Michael Haslam simply served to demonstrate what might have been possible had Ramsbottom been able to expose and explore the depth of Glossop's bowling under pressure.