SETTLE haven't had a great deal to shout about this season, but they certainly caused a stir in the Ribblesdale League on Saturday when they toppled Senior Division leaders Ribblesdale Wanderers at Marsh Field.

Key to success was the tight bowling and fielding which restricted the visitors to a modest 82 total. Only opener Ward (42) made any headway with a patient 42 as all three Settle bowlers kept a tight grip on proceedings. David Jolleys claimed two wickets in an 18-over spell which conceded only 35 runs, Jimmy Tarbox was only marginally more costly in claiming his two victims and Alan Fergie finished with 4-23 from another economical spell.

Giving excellent support was wicket-keeper Harry Dalby, who snapped up three victims and conceded just two leg byes and a wide, an excellent display which was to prove crucial when the game reached a gripping finale.

When Settle batted, the Wanderers attack was equally miserly, but at 73-4, a Settle win looked a formality. It proved to be anything but. Settle's grip on the game disappeared in a desperate spell in which they lost five wickets for three runs and at 76-9, the initiative had passed to the visitors.

At that point the pressure fell on the shoulders of No 11, 15-year-old Sam Christian, and Dalby, who showed great composure in a tight corner. They kept their nerve admirably to pick off the singles they needed to

Neither Earby nor Barnoldswick were able to extract any satisfaction from the weekend, both suffering a brace of defeats.

steer the side to a one-wicket win.