"WE'RE into a run of form, everyone is starting to deliver their best and this is just the time for us to be playing a game like this."

Earby captain Ian Clarkson has been in cricket far too long to deliver a 'we'll murder the bums' battle cry before tomorrow's crucial Jennings Ribblesdale League Senior Division derby at Victory Park, Barnoldswick, or even to offer a confident forecast of the outcome, but there is no doubting that he feels his men are in just the right mood for a big performance, (writes Tony Simpson).

"We have four or five batsmen starting to get runs and our bowlers are also running into form, especially Trevor Kegg, who has been outstanding of late.

"We're now entering the crucial phase of our season, with the next couple of games absolutely crucial. If we can get something out of our matches against Barnoldswick and Cherry Tree, we have a run of games against sides at the lower end of the table.

"No-one can take anything for granted because there are plenty of players around who can turn a game on their own, but the form-book suggests we will pick up points from these games.

"There are still 49 points to play for, so a lot can happen. We're also reaching a point in the season when the side that can keep its nerve will do well.

"That should help us because we have a number of experienced men in our side who should be accustomed to pressure.

"We are also free from any holiday commitments and expect to be at full-strength, although, as ever, we are still relying on the weather. Last weekend we managed to complete two games, which was remarkable after conditions earlier in the week."

One of the plusses of last weekend was the contribution of professional Alex Scholefield. He was told on Saturday that the club has decided not to re-engage him for another season, yet despite his inevitable disappointment, he still delivered two fine knocks to get his side on the path to victory.

Elsewhere on the Ribblesdale League front, Settle need to get back to winning ways after a disappointing weekend of two reverses when they entertain Padiham.

"That's life," was skipper Andy Davidson's reaction to the setback from his Cornbish holiday. "There's still plenty of cricket to play and we can get back into it. The point is that after finishing near the foot of the table for long enough, we are up among the front runners again.

"A sensible target at the start of the season might have been a top six place. We're in that bracket now and we have the power to improve.

"A couple of defeats won't puncture our enthusiasm or our optimism. Paul Ridgway and myself will be back tomorrow and I'm confident we can finish positively."

Skipton could stand a win at Bardsey, one of the other strugglers in Division B of the Airedale & Wharfedale League tomorrow to keep their flickering survival hopes alive, while in the J P Mewies Craven & District League, the meeting of title rivals Embsay and Oakworth at Shires Lane is easily the most important match of the day.

On Sunday, cup final action dominates the scene at Cononley, where the second teams of Barrowford and Embsay meet in the Cowling Cup final.

Junior action at Sandylands on Sunday sees the Craven Joe Lumb team entertaining their Heavy Woollen League counterparts.

The weekend programme includes:

Jennings Ribblesdale League

Barnoldswick v Earby, Settle v Padiham.

Airedale & Wharfedale League

Division A: Rawdon v Steeton. Division B: Silsden v Pool, Bardsey v Skipton. Division C: Alwoodley v Addingham, Upper Wharfedale v Thackley.

J P Mewies Craven & District League

Saturday

Division One: Barrowford v Thornton, Bradley v Long Lee, Cullingworth v Cowling, Embsay v Oakworth, Foulridge v Pendle Forest, Skipton CI v Haworth.

Division Two: Airedale v Jimmy Nelson's, Carleton v Cononley, Chatburn v Haworth WE, Gargrave v Sutton, Glusburn v Denholme, Ingrow v Ingrow St John's.

Division Three: Cowling II v Cullingworth II, Haworth II v Skipton CI II, Long Lee II v Bradley II, Oakworth II v Embsay II, Pendle Forest II v Glusburn 11, Thornton II v Barrowford 11.

Division Four: Cononley II v Long Lee III, Denholme II v Foulridge II, Ingrow St John's II v Ingrow II, Keighley Tech v Chatburn II, Pendle Forest III v Airedale II, Sutton II v Gargrave II.

Sunday

Cowling Cup final - Barrowford v Embsay at Cononley.