Adam Bracewell says he is lucky he is the Enfield professional - or else he would get dropped!
The 26-year-old made the switch from amateur to paid man ranks last season when he left Dill Hall¿Lane - the club where he made his debut 10 years ago and had played for that decade - to join Rishton towards the latter end of the campaign finishing with more than 700 runs.
This season he was snapped up as the main man at his home club Enfield but admits it isn’t going to plan so far.
"If I wasn’t the professional I would be in the second team," said the all-rounder. "All the amateurs are chipping in, except me, and we have 12 or 13 pushing for a first team place. It’s lucky I pick the team or else I would be in trouble!
"I just hope that I can turn the corner. Last season, I was in the swing of it when I joined Rishton, but this season, it has taken me a while to get going but hopefully I will come good in the next few games."
He is hoping for his big hit tomorrow at Burnley in the league and then the Worsley Cup first round at home to Rawtenstall.
"The Worsley Cup is big to me as I have never been to the final," said the Enfield pro.
"The furthest I have been is to the semi-final a few seasons ago when we lost to Lowerhouse on the last ball and Mas Ahmed still has sleepless nights about that.
"But we should do well in the cup this season. The thing we have got at the moment is a lot of decent bowlers. You need five for the cup and we have around seven or eight who can do a decent job for the first team.
"Rawtenstall are a bit similar with a lot of bowlers too and they have experience in the side with Andy Payne as their amateur but hopefully it’s us who are sat in the clubhouse with smiles on our faces on Sunday."
If Bracewell can get his big score, it would certainly make him happy.
"I am enjoying the responsibility of being the pro. My brother David, the Enfield captain, just used to ignore me before but now he has to actually listen to me! But he is laid back and we are working well together."
It has been hit and miss in the league so far for the Dill Hall Laners although only Haslingden and Ramsbottom have really stolen a march on everyone else in the league. Bracewell added: "Everyone is tipping Haslingden and Ramsbottom for the title and it is no surprise they are up there. Accrington will come good but I also think Church will be a threat this season."
ENFIELD’S defeat on Saturday against title chasing Ramsbottom saw them drop from fifth to eighth in the early table.
But they will be kicking themselves as they had the Acrebottom side on the rack at 92-5 but the bowlers could not remove Alex Bell who ended up with an unbeaten 90 in their 223-7. Pick of the attack was Liam Jackson with four wickets.
Then Enfield couldn’t get anyone to last any pace with top scorer Asif Afzal (56) - with three ducks in their innings and Adam Bracewell out for 17 - as they fell a disappointing 67 runs short.
Meanwhile, batting was once again the downfall for reigning Lancashire League champions Accrington as they dropped to their fourth defeat in six games against pacesetters Haslingden. Accrington opted to bat but they bled wickets regularly and their final total of 149 all out was never likely to be enough against unbeaten Haslingden.
Matt Wilson did continue his form with the bat, top scoring with 44 which helped them post a score that at least asked some questions of the opposing batsmen.
Wilson came to the crease with Accrington 58-4 and he certainly took an instant liking to the bowling of Chris Read, dispatching his first three balls for four and then repeated the punishment off the last ball.
Wilson was supported by pro Will Driver and just over six overs of hard hitting helped Accrington put on 62 runs.
But Chris Read then picked up the wicket of Driver, leaving David Ormerod’s men on 120-5. And Graeme Sneddon lasted only briefly before he was snaffled up in the slip.
Those losses stemmed Accrington’s momentum and Wilson, who had raced to 41 runs from just 20 balls, got frustrated and eventually tried to lift Graham Knowles back over the bowler's head and the Haslingden skipper took the return catch. That left Accrington on 130-7 and they could add only 19 more before the last wicket fell.
But Haslingden were given a scare in their reply with David Ormerod bowling an economical 23 overs for just 45 runs and two wickets.
And the Bentgate side lost most of their top order for not much but the dangerous Steve Dearden stayed at the crease and played a circumspect innings to see his side home.
He played well within in himself for unbeaten 68 off 105 balls but decided to cut loose when Joey Marcroft became the eighth Haslingden wicket to fall on 141.
Dearden then cracked a two, six and four off the next three deliveries to pass their target.
RISHTON must feel a win will come their way soon as, although they have only chalked up one all season, there has been a number of close games. And they took in-form East Lancs to the last seven balls before they eventually succumbed.
Rishton batsman Tiarnan Hamill has had a solid start to the campaign with the bat and he got a career-best 75 while Mo Patel got 38 and Mick Winkley 37 in their target of 210-8.
East Lancs were 22-2 and Rishton must have thought they stood a great chance but Minhaj Bhada’s 90 proved decisive as, helped by Jon Turner’s 43, they passed the target with four wickets left.
