Accrington 160-5 dec v Ramsbottom 157
Saturday September 2nd 1961

 

Accrington 1961 Champions ©Garth Dawson

Accrington clinched the Lancashire League title for the first time in 45 years by beating Ramsbottom by 5 wickets at a sunlit Thorneyholme Road after Nelson, the only team who could catch Accrington were beaten by Todmorden.

Young leg spinner Eddie Robinson was the hero of the hour taking 7-55 after Ramsbottom professional Seymour Nurse had tamed his West Indian team-mate Wes Hall. Nurse broke the Ramsbottom batting record during his fine innings of 73 before falling to part time medium pacer Derek Rushton.

Ramsbottom’s score of 157 all out was a tough one to beat but openers Jackie Hope (46) and Frank Rushton (36) laid a solid base for their team-mates. Derek Rushton (23 not out), Martin Welbourne (12), Lindon Dewhurst (7) and Brian Rutter, who hit the winning runs in making 17 not out, all chipped in to crown a typical team performance in a victory which was repeated in the final game at Acre Bottom.

Scorecard