Settle made welcome progress at the foot of the Jennings Ribblesdale Cricket League over the rain-wrecked weekend, seven invaluable points from a win and a draw moving them into closer order with their immediate rivals at the foot of the table.

On Saturday, the deluge brought mixed blessings for Settle.They had Great Harwood at 88 for three after 26 overs when rain finally intervened, which, with professional John Harvey in the tent for 11, gave both side hopes of a positive outcome.

On Sunday, however, a strong batting display after a cautious start paved the way for the team's second win of the season against Edenfield, although there must have been a degree of frustration at not collecting the bowling bonuses having dismissed the first eight batsmen.

Professional Surindra Bhave led the way by carrying his bat for a well-constructed 82, which included eight fours. Against the miserly bowlingof Steven Kirby, who conceded only 13 runs in his first nine overs, Settle had to fight for every morsel, but they eventually blossomed, with Hill and Humphries adding solid support, to take the total to 153 for three.

When the Edenfield reply got underway, they found the Settle attack equally tight, the only batsmen to break the stranglehold being mid-order man Storey, who lashed four sixes in a lively knock of 42 before being caught and bowled by David Jolleys.

Edenfield were 125 for eight at the close and Settle were in closer touch with next-to-bottom Barnoldswick, Baxenden and Edenfield

Barnoldswick also collected seven points in similar circumstances to Settle, although they had the benefit of some valuable batting practice for their top-order trio when they elected to take first knock once again against Oswaldtwistle.

Ian Scothern, professional Mark Temple and Paul Beech all showed good technique and shot selection on a sticky wicket where the ball did not come onto the bat. Only 11 runs came off the first nine overs, but the Barnoldswick openers settled patiently to the challenge and with Paul Beech lifting the tempo when he arrived at the crease, a healthy total seemed likely when rain ended proceedings.

Once again Gerrard Metcalf proved a cunning adversary with his off-spin, finishing with a four-wicket haul which reflects his customary success in the fixture.

While Barnoldswick were glad of their win at Whalley the following day, they were unable to capitalise by bowling out much-weakened opposition. With three senior players having moved on from last season and another three ruled out of this game through injury, Whalley were always vulnerable and found headway hard to make.

Profession Mark Temple produced the most penetrative spell with 4-19 from eleven overs, but the visitors missed a great chance to claim the bowling points, a missed chance off Grace proving costly.

Barnoldswick suffered an early setback when Temple fell to Graham Knowles in the first over before a run had been scored, which brought Ian Scothern to the wicket much sooner than was hoped. With the threat of rain always lurking in the background, Barnoldswick had promoted Andrew Brown as a 'pinch-hitter' and he and Scothern moved the score along to 72 at a sensible rate before Brown was trapped lbw by Knowles.

With rain still a real threat, Paul Beech signalled his intentions with a first-ball four and partnered Scothern to an eight-wicket win - at which point the anticipated downpour arrived.

Professionals Dexter Fitton and Jonathan Harvey completely dominated proceedings at Chatburn Road, where Clitheroe had the better of a rain-hit game against Earby on Sunday. Fitton's contribution with the bat reached 41 before he was stumped, the honours then swinging to Harvey, who claimed 5-9 in 14 overs, which included eight maidens.

In reply, Earby had Harvey top scoring with 27 and giving the innings some substance, although Fitton had the visitors on the rack for most of the time, claiming 7-43 as Earby finished at 87-8.

R.S.P thwarts

century bid

Frustration was the order of the day across the cricket calendar last weekend, with no-one lamenting the weather more than Skipton Seconds opener Kevin Owens.

He had reached 97 n.o. in his side's Aire-Wharfe match at Tong Park when rain arrived to deny him his big moment. After their recent batting problems, the Skipton openers gave the team a dream start. Shabir Hussein and Owens scored freely in all areas as they compiled a 135 opening partnership, Hussein being denied his first fifty when he was caught in the deep.

Owens reached his half-century off 63 balls, but though the innings continued to develop nicely once Ageel joined Owens, the rain finally robbed Owens of his milestone.

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