However, the damage was not terminal as rivals Warley and Triangle also crashed on a topsy-turvey day of action.

Inserted on a damp deck, 'Royd got off to a healthy start with openers Rashid and Earle combining watchful defence with lusty aggression. Rashid made his way to a cavalier 46 before Andrew Sutcliffe took a smart catch at point.

Batting was never easy on such a surface and the dangerous Zeb Mahmood was soon on his way, giving the impressive Nigel Horsfall his second wicket.

Tom Earle and Zahid Mahmood deserve praise for the way they applied themselves and tried to bat their way out of trouble; Earle in particular playing some classy shots on his way to 31. But Horsfall did him with a beauty to nip out his off bail and then sent back the dangerous Julian Lord to give him the first four wickets.

When veteran Sharkey had 'Royd skipper Kris Halstead snared at square leg, Booth were well in the hunt with Royd reeling at 120 for 5.

That was about as good as it got for Booth as next man in, Jamie Cowans, forsook watchful defence and set about them with abandon.

He was a man in a hurry and was dealing in sixes and fours, but Booth will be kicking themselves as prior to his 50, they dropped him twice in one over from chances that should have been taken.

On such things are games won and lost.

Unabashed, Cowans cracked on and smote a whirlwind century off 50-odd balls – scattering the field as he went. It was a fantastic innings.

Feeding off this, his partner Mahmood joined in the fun too and sped to 75, whereupon hi s dismissal, Paul Senior entered the fray to add to the carnage with a beefy 47 not out. Cowans ended with a splendid 109 not out as Royd rattled up a mammoth 325-6.

As ever, when chasing such a total, Booth needed a good start but were soon in the mire as key men Mosley, Sharkey and Laycock were all back in the hutch with not-so-many on the board. Booth's supine bating display was punctuated only by a lusty 31 from ex-maestro Wajid Ali, who is finally showing signs of his best vintage – something that may come in handy as the season comes to a close and Booth look to land the big prize. In the end, Booth fell well short and Royd were happy to avenge their heavy defeat earlier in the season.

After the exchanges on the field, it was good to see players and officials from both sides enjoy the fun at the Booth CC barbecue, demonstrating the good spirit and respect between these two clubs.