FULL credit to everyone at Ramsbottom CC for their organisation of the Worsley Cup final. Acre Bottom was a picture and a huge and well-behaved crowd added to the big game atmosphere.

It proves that cricket in the leagues is very much alive and kicking with not a seat to be had at one of the nicest grounds on the circuit, and the players of both Ramsbottom and Todmorden raised their game to put on a show worthy of any final.

Of course there has to be a loser - and for Todmorden the pain must be hard to take as they were runners-up for the second year running and the third time in five seasons.

That’s tough to take but I am sure they will bounce back and the way they behaved in defeat was a lesson indeed to many other sportsmen and women.

There is much work goes into organising a final and the Ramsbottom committee had been tireless in their efforts and they could enjoy the moment just as much as Keith Webb’s exciting team.

Maybe ‘enjoy’ is too strong a word for chairman Rod Hamer. He was a bundle of nerves all afternoon and hit every shot and fielded every ball as well as performing a sterling job as the PA announcer.

And one of the strangest sights was that of club secretary Sheila McQueeney constantly delivering supplies of toilet rolls to all parts of the ground.

But as well as Rammy arranged the final, there is no way they were responsible for the fly past by the Red Arrows.

They were actually on their way to an airshow on Blackpool promenade...

* Players from just about every club were at the final and they all had a good day – and some enjoyed the spirit more than others.

One captain of a Lancashire League team of this parish had an afternoon hitting the rose wine and was definitely feeling the effects as the day wore on.

Rumour has it the said player had to be poured into a taxi as he left Acre Bottom and probably wasn’t the most popular person in his household when he arrived home later on Sunday night.

Now it would be unfair to name the said individual – but he did admit that his memories finished rather early in the afternoon. Mind you, he did have a bit to celebrate from the previous day as well.

* Rawtenstall’s Bacup Road ground has always been a favourite of many cricket fans. It is compact so viewing is good and the steep bank of seats offers an on top of play experience.

And now the new clubhouse is taking shape rapidly.

Clubs need their clubhouses. They bring in a vital income stream. Rawtenstall have been without that all season. But it is nearing completion and it looks the business.

And when it opens, perhaps before the end of the season, Rawtenstall really will have a set-up to be proud of.