READ swept clear at the top of the Jennings Ribblesdale League after a bumper double-header weekend.

In the big match yesterday they toppled Barnoldswick, restricting the Victory Park club to 113-9 before claiming a seven wicket victory, Michael Whalley (53) and Warren Eastham (52 not out).

Cherry Tree let their Championship hopes slip when they suffered a five wicket defeat to Ribblesdale Wanderers. Gary Bolton top scored on 40 but professional Shahid Nawaz led Wanderers to victory with 69 not out.

Earby's title hopes disappeared as they went through the weekend without picking up a point. Against Clitheroe they reached 108-3 before Alex Scholefield was dismissed for 73 and then slumped to 124 all out. Clitheroe scraped home, Andy Burns scpring 68.

Baxenden professional Jonathan Harvey rattled up the highest score of the weekend with 113 as his side reached 204-6 against Edenfield. Liam Bones took 6-84 as Edenfield were dismissed for 149.

Settle claimed victory over Whalley with just two balls to go after the Ribble Valley club had set a target of 119-8 with Settle professional Stewart Hornby taking 5-41.

Blackburn Northern were dismissed for 82 with Andrew Metcalfe taking 5-29 and Oswaldtwistle Immanuel just made it to victory by one wicket as Ian Bickerstaffe took 4-27.

Great Harwood beat Padiham by six wickets with Dave Newton taking 5-41 as Padiham reached 119. Harwood professional Farhan Adil top scored with 70.

On Saturday Akram Raza led Read to victory over Settle by taking 6-35. Read's Nick Marsh top scored with 43 not out.

Cherry Tree saw Naeem Ashraf score 73 out of their total of 129-6 while Padiham's Lee Childs took 5-56. Ashraf then picked up five wickets as Padiham struggled to 101-8.

Great Harwood scored 131-8 with Earby professional Alex Scholefield taking 5-68. The Applegarth club scored 107-9 in reply with captain Ian Clarkson scoring 63.

Clitheroe picked up an easy seven points after dismissing Oswaldtwistle for 82 . Professional Rob Ashton took 5-23 in an attempt to halt Clitheroe's run to victory.

Whalley beat Edenfield by four wickets with Jason Smith taking 4-31 as Edenfield reached 105.

Barnoldswick's game against Ribblesdale Wanderers was abandoned and there was no play between Baxenden and Blackburn Northern.

Results (Saturday) -- Senior Division: Barnoldswick dnb (2) Ribblesdale Wdrs 74-2 (2); Baxenden dnb (2) Blackburn Northern dnb (2); Cherry Tree 129-5 (5) Padiham 101-8 (0); Clitheroe 86-6 (7) Oswaldtwistle Imm 82 (0); Great Harwood 13-18 (5) Earby 107-6 (0); Read 107-2 (7) Settle 106 (0); Whalley 106-6 (7) Edenfield 105 (0).

Sunday: Barnoldswick 113-9 (0) Read 114-3 (5); Earby 124 (0) Clitheroe 128-7 (7); Edenfield 149 (0) Baxenden 204-6 (7); Oswaldtwistle Imm 83-9 (7) Blackburn Northern 82 (0); Padiham 119 (0) Great Harwood 122-4 (7); Ribblesdale Wdrs 128-5 (7) Cherry Tree 127 (0); Settle 120-6 (5) Whalley 119-8 (0).