DUNCAN Spencer knows a good spinner when he sees one after watching the imperious Roger Harper at close quarters over the past two seasons.

And though Spencer and his Nelson team-mates only got a fleeting glimpse of Mike Watkinson yesterday, he saw enough to conclude the new Church pro could be ready to make a big impact this summer.

In fact, the former Lancashire skipper worked with such efficiency that Spencer and Co were propping up the bar in their Seedhill clubhouse by 5.20pm, opening the inquest into their stunning seven-wicket defeat.

Only new professional Keith Arthurton and Marcus Phelan managed double figures as the defending champions were shot out for a meagre 68 in just 31.1 overs with Watkinson bagging 4-24.

And as the after-match post-mortem looked set to continue deep into the night, early conclusions suggested the home side had contributed to their own downfall. "Mike's a great signing for Church and, on this sort of wicket, he's always going to be difficult to get away," said Spencer.

"He was turning it a long way -- you could more or less leave it if it was pitching on middle stump, it was turning that far.

"So he was certainly a handful and I'm sure he will do well for them.

"But we've got to bat better than that -- there's no excuses.

"On those types of wickets you've got to be looking to make 150 and use all your overs.

"There was something like 23 or 24 overs left when we lost our last wicket and that's not good enough.

"We were a bit unlucky in terms of the fact a couple of people played on.

"But looking at the whole picture, I think too many people got themselves out.

"They were trying to play shots you can get away with in July when it's rock hard but you can't do that out there.

"But we don't want to dwell on it.

"We've just got to forget about it and concentrate on the next couple of games."

It was always going to be a big toss to win and so it proved once Church skipper Mark Aspin decided to insert the home side. But even he must have been surprised by the way Nelson disintegrated.

Medium pacer Mahboob Hussain did the early damage, removing Spencer (2) then claiming the big scalp of Arthurton (13) before either player had chance to get going, although both played on.

But Nelson really hit skid row once Watkinson found his rhythm.

The ex-England international turned the ball quite prodigiously as the damp conditions proved conducive to his off-spin.

And, in tandem with his skipper, Aspin, (who helped himself to 2-13) they tore Nelson's usually reliable middle order apart, profiting from some rash stroke-play to mop up the last seven wickets for just 34 runs.

Lacking a genuine bowling professional, Spencer and Co never stood much chance of defending such a low total. Openers Alex Holt (14) and Craig Fergusson put on 30 for the first wicket to snuff out any real threat of a collapse of their own.

And though Watkinson could only muster eight with the bat (which included one mighty six), Church cruised to their victory target inside just 22 overs, much to the delight of a delirious band of visiting supporters who chanted with great relish 'It's only 5 o'clock'.

As for Nelson, it could take a while to come to terms with the loss of Harper.

But Spencer and his side have not won back-to-back championships without showing character.

"We had Roger for two years and we did well with him but that's gone now," said Spencer.

"We are starting from scratch, we've got to work hard and prove that we can do it again."