PETER SLEEP hopes he is wrong but his instinct tells him Cherry Tree are going to clinch the Jennings Ribblesdale League crown.

The one-time Read professional desperately wants his former club to pick up the trophy but he thinks the experience of the Preston Old Road club will tell in the end.

There are at least four teams in the hunt with leaders Barnoldswick, Cherry Tree, Read and fourth placed Earby all separated by just four points.

Cherry Tree clinched the Ramsbottom Cup on Monday night and are going for the double - a feat they last achieved in 1997.

When Aussie Sleep was at Read, he led them to Cup success in 2000 but, much to his disappointment, he doesn't think they will last the pace in the title hunt this time out.

This is especially as their run-in reads fifth-placed Settle first up tomorrow, followed by Barnoldswick on Sunday, Cherry Tree next Saturday then Clitheroe and Great Harwood in the final two games of the season.

"I would love Read to win it, I really would and I hope I am wrong," admitted Sleep who now plays in the Lancashire League with Rishton.

"But I am just not sure they have the killer instinct in the tight games.

"Saying that, with a new captain in Warren Eastham and a few new players they have done extremely well.

"If they finish third it will be a great achievement and I do think that is where they may finish.

"Another year together and they may win the title.

"But Read do have such a tough run-in. I can see them winning one of the games against the top two but not both.

"But if they win both, it is in their hands although they have to win the other games as well which will not be easy.

"But I think it may come down to Cherry Tree and Barlick, a two horse race, and Cherry Tree's experience will help them a lot.

"I will be absolutely over the moon if Read do it."

Sleep hasn't seen Barlick pro Clinton Peake first hand despite the fact he has sub-proed in the Lancashire League for Todmorden - but he has heard plenty about him.

"Clinton has done really well for them. He has been excellent," said Sleep, who runs the Wickets Hotel in Rishton. "He is obviously a very good player.

"And Cherry Tree, they play well together as a team and I think that will play a big part in the next four or five games."

Fourth-placed Earby are still in the hunt and would expect to win most of their last five games against Great Harwood, Clitheroe, Oswaldtwistle Immanuel, Ribblesdale Wanderers and Padiham.

"Earby pro Alec Scholefield has had a great couple of years at Todmorden and has done well at Earby and they perhaps have the easier of run-ins," said Sleep.

"But they are three points behind which requires them to get seven points and relies on the others getting fives.

"But the others can all take points off each other so it will be an interesting couple of weeks."

TOMORROW'S GAMES: Barnoldswick v Ribblesdale Wanderers, Baxenden v Blackburn Northern, Cherry Tree v Padiham, Clitheroe v Oswaldtwistle Immanuel, Great Harwood v Earby, Read v Settle, Whalley v Edenfield.