BARNOLDSWICK hopes of carrying off the Jennings Ribblesdale League Senior Division title for the first time since 1992 will hinge on matches on the last day of the season tomorrow, but the smart money is on Read to carry off the trophy.

The Victory Park men have enjoyed their best season for some time and been in the thick of the title chase throughout, but Read have come with a wet sail in the closing stages.

Last weekend they made themselves favourites to take the title for the first time since 1979 when they beat defending champions Cherry Tree on their own midden and then picked up another five points at Clitheroe to claim a five point advantage going into the final day's play.

Now Barnoldswick need to beat Baxenden at Back Lane and hope that Great Harwood can upset the form-book when they entertain Read at Cliffe Park.

Not that the race for the title is the only contest still very much alive and kicking. Next season's entry into the Lancashire Cricket Board's Thwaites Knockout competition will take in Cherry Tree, as the Ramsbottom Cup winners, and three other teams. Read, Barnoldswick and Cherry Tree are certain to be nominated, but the fourth placed is still up for grabs.

Earby (85points), Settle (84 points), Clitheroe (83 points) and Ribblesdale Wanderers (81 points) are still in contention, leaving half the league with plenty to play for on the final day.

Read's crucial success at Cherry Tree was an outstanding effort, given that they were asked to chase the champions' 207-5 tally to collect the points. Mick Veevers, with an unbeaten 110, was the hero of the Cherry Tree innings, but Read had ex-Earby player Craig Walton producing the crucial response.

His 80, coupled with 37no from Akram Raza and 45 from Nick Marsh saw the visitors home by five wickets.

Barnoldswick, meanwhile, were staying in contention with a brace of wins over Whalley and Blackburn Northern, although they might live to regret not being able to bowl out Whalley on Saturday.

The home side reached 126-8 when they batted first, Clinton Peake being the pick of the Barnoldswick bowlers with 3-15, leaving the visitors with a fairly straightforward task.

Ian Scothern laid the foundation with an innings of 45 that included three fours and two sixes, while Peake (23) and Matthew Plant (30) supplied the back-up in a six-wicket win.

Skipper Mike Scothern and James Stead claimed star billing the following day when they returned 5-24 and 4-24 respectively as Blackburn Northern were skittled out for 75, Peake (25no) leading the way as the visitors got home with seven wickets in hand.

Earby's chances of featuring in the run-in seemed to evaporate almost as soon as they arrived a few weeks ago, but they can still claim one of the top four places and an entry into the Lancashire leagues' knockout next season if they keep Settle - one point adrift - at bay tomorrow when they visit Padiham.

They started last weekend's double-header positively enough with a 45-run win over visitors Oswaldtwistle Immanuel that yielded seven points.

Skipper Ian Clarkson (73no) held the innings together when Earby batted first, although low-order support from Trevor Kegg (28) and Andrew Rushton (24) proved crucial as the Applegarth men recovered from being 78-6 at one point to close at 182-8.

An opening stand of 65, with professional Rob Ashton (45) in good form, created some anxiety for Earby, but some smart fielding swung the initiative back in their favour and the visitors were eventually bowled out for 137, Andrew Jaggers claiming 5-45.

Ian Clarkson must have been harbouring thoughts of another seven points the following day when his side batted first and reached 191-4 at home to Ribblesdale Wanderers, Earby getting a helping hand when visiting professional Shahid Nawaz was laid low by a throw from one of his team-mates.

Clarkson was unbeaten for the second successive day to finish with 55no and shared in a 99-run stand with Trevor Kegg, who was unbeaten on 54 at the close.

The Clitheroe side were undaunted by the challenge, however, and a steady response, in which most of the side - including a revived Nawaz (28no) - made runs saw them home with two wickets and three overs in hand.

Former Earby professional Jonathan Harvey was the difference between Baxenden and Settle when they met at Back Lane on Saturday.

Whereas the Settle opening attack has managed to contain most sides this season, Harvey proved to be the master on this occasion, his 87 providing the backbone to the home side's innings of 179-9.

Given the uncertainty of Settle's batting this season, that total always represented a stiff challenge and although Tim Green (40), Mark Verden (36), Paul Taylor (25) and Keith Hornby (27no) all got a good start, no-one could supply a match-winning knock as Settle closed at 167-8.

A good all-round display from skipper Andy Davidson was the key to success at Edenfield the following day. He top-scored with 51 and had Stuart Hornby (34), Mark Verden (34) and Graham Kellett (22) - confirming his ability to operate successfully at this level after taking time to adapt - lending solid support as the visitors reached 196-9. In the absence of Paul Ridgway, Davidson then opened the bowling and produced an outstanding spell, which brought him 7-33 from 19 overs as the home side was dismissed for 117.