RAMSBOTTOM are hoping for great things from their new professional Michael Clark when they begin the 2002 campaign this weekend.

The Worsley Cup winners travel to Rishton for their first league game on Sunday, 24 hours after taking on Bacup in the Colne Cup match against the Lancashire League winners.

Clark is a right-handed batsman and left arm spin bowler, who has captained Australia's Under-19 side.

Leading Ramsbottom again will be Mark Price for the third season and he will be hoping his side will not miss three players who have departed for pastures new.

Mark Dentith has made the short journey down the road to Walshaw, where he will also be coaching, Tommy Read won't be unfamiliar with his new surroundings either as he has linked up with Haslingden, while Simon Lord has had to cease playing because of family commitments.

They will be replaced by newcomer Keith Webb, a batsman who has played for Greenmount and Unsworth in the past, and all rounders Nicholas Riley and Simon Read, who return to Acre Bottom after being unavailable last season.

Ramsbottom will play Heywood at home in the first round of the Inter League Knockout, a competition which they reached the later stages of last term.

FOLLOWING a winter of controversy surrounding Radcliffe's proposed ground move, they will be glad to start the real business of playing cricket.

Radcliffe will begin their bid for the Central Lancashire League title, buoyed by good performances in their pre-season friendlies. A tied game against Colne, followed by a comprehensive beating of Blackpool, augurs well for the future.

Nick Kennedy performed well in both games, having missed most of last season with a broken finger. He will join the strong bowling attack of 'Eddie' Shah, Steven Holt and professional Steve Dearden, all of whom performed well last season.

The batting will be boosted by the addition of Australian overseas amateur Travis Birt, from Victoria. All in all, there should be plenty of fireworks at the Racecourse this season, with a serious title bid in the offing.

STAND are in the process of signing a number of new players following the appointment of Martin Hegg as professional and captain for the new season.

One player already on board is 18-year-old Adelaide Academy star, Josh McClean, who is an Australian Cricket Board qualified coach and a strong right-hand batsman and quick bowler.

LOCAL rivals Unsworth will have Pasan Wanasinghe as professional again as they embark on their first season on their new ground at Pole Lane.

There will be a new captain at the helm, however, in Paul Entwistle who has joined them from Werneth.

Wood Cup winners Middleton are the visitors for the opening league game at Unsworth on Sunday.