IT takes a brave man to turn his back on a club like East Lancs after 17 years.

But that's exactly what 24-year-old batsman Chris Riley did last winter.

And now he hopes the gamble pays instant dividends as he attempts to lead Cherry Tree to the Jennings Ribblesdale League title in his debut season.

"It was a big decision to leave and I certainly didn't want to go to another Lancashire League club because I wouldn't have liked to have played against East Lancs for someone else," said Riley, who had been at Alexandra Meadows since the age of seven.

"But when it came down to it I just felt I had to leave in order to get more of an opportunity elsewhere.

"East Lancs have been a decent side over the past few years, regularly finishing in the top two, but I was batting at number six and it was mainly the top five who were getting all the runs.

"So I wasn't getting much of a chance because the rest of the batting line-up was so strong and I just felt I couldn't play my natural game as a result.

"It was just one of those things. It wasn't the fault of anyone at East Lancs. "My brother played at Cherry Tree last season so I was already quite friendly with a lot of the lads. So when David Hayes rang me up I decided to go for it."

Initially, it took time for Riley to adjust to life in the Ribblesdale League.

But his form in the last few weeks would indicate he is now starting to find his feet.

And his match-winning 92 against Edenfield last weekend was comfortably his highest score of the season as Cherry marched to the top of the table.

"It's taken me a while to get going in the league," said Riley, who has around 350 runs to his name this summer.

"I got off to a slow start because it took a bit of getting used to the different tracks. But in the last few weeks I've had a couple of decent scores and suddenly it all seems to be starting to come together."

Skipper Hayes will be hoping he can maintain that form as his side prepare for one of their biggest weekends of the season.

On Saturday they take on surprise package Settle in a game which could have a major bearing on the destination of the title. Then on Sunday they will turn their attentions to the Ramsbottom Cup when they meet Clitheroe for a place in the final. "It's another big weekend for us," said Riley. "We beat Settle quite easily earlier in the season but they have come back strongly since then."