Edenfield have their own agenda

Chris Hanson's side were propping up the table at the end of last season and are aiming to avoid a repeat this summer.

It isn't going quite to plan as they, along with bottom club Oswaldtwistle Immanuel and Baxenden, are adrift at the wrong end of the table.

They have lost their last four games - including a loss to Ossie although these defeats have also involved Cherry Tree and Barnoldswick, two of the teams vying for the crown.

"Realistically at the start of the season we were looking for a mid-table position but we are a long way off," said the skipper.

"Now we just want to get a run together to move us up the table. We are not playing well but we are not playing badly either, if that makes sense.

"We bowl and field okay on one day and bat badly and then the next week it is the opposite, we just need some consistency."

It is a shame for the side after they signed their first overseas professional this summer, South African Ian Mitchell.

"He bowls and bats for us but in South Africa he keeps wicket, he is not bad all round.

"Ian didn't have the best of starts but if he just gets one score, I am sure he will go on from there.

"He has got around 300 runs - including a 54 and 49 - and taken around 25 wickets.

"He just needs to get that little bit of luck."

While the Edenfield club are looking at the wrong end of the table, they have had first hand experience of the top teams.

"Cherry Tree beat us last week and they had about four regulars out, including Nigel Robins. It just goes to show.

"And Barnoldswick beat us the week before. They are a good side and have good amateurs, like the Scothern brothers and Paul Beech."

Read and Settle are also up there challenging for the title but Hanson could not stick his neck out and predict who will clinch the title.

"There is still half way to go and a lot of cricket to be played. They are all good sides but anything could still happen. The weather could also have a big bearing on it."

It's Great Harwood tomorrow for Edenfield and they hope the Cliffe Park side have one eye on their Ramsbottom Cup semi-final against Settle on the Sunday.

"I hope they are all fully focused on that!" joked Hanson.

"It was close at their place earlier on in the season and they won by about nine runs so hopefully, if it is close again, it is our turn to nick it."

If they clinch one win, Edenfield do hope they can go on a run but over the next couple of weeks, it's Earby and Padiham, two other teams who both hope for a late charge for the title.

"It never gets easy and that is why we just have to take it one game at a time.

"If you are up near the top, you have to try and win every game but where we are, it is a case of making sure you enjoy your cricket.

"If you lose you have to take it on the chin and go into the bar afterwards! The spirit in the side is good here and we will be trying to make sure we don't finish bottom again."

Elsewhere the match of the day tomorrow is at Settle.

The fourth placed side take on leaders Cherry Tree after helping the defending champions into top spot last week.

Settle beat Barnoldswick to topple them from pole position and will be aiming to inflict the same on Cherry Tree to boost their own title chances.

Tomorrow's games: Barnoldswick v Oswaldtwistle Immanuel; Blackburn Northern v Clitheroe, Earby v Baxenden; Edenfield v Great Harwood; Padiham v Whalley; Ribblesdale Wanderers v Read; Settle v Cherry Tree