THERE couldn't have been more contrasting fortunes last weekend as Great Harwood and Earby prepare for tomorrow's Ramsbottom Cup final showdown at Clitheroe.
While Paul Houldsworth's Harwood side were buoyed by two big hitting victories in last weekend's double header, Earby fell to two losses -- although skipper Ian Clarkson says it will count for nothing come tomorrow.
"They had a good weekend and I'm sure it will give them confidence but if we click like I know we can then we are also confident. "
Harwood rattled up two 200-plus totals with Houldsworth unbeaten on 90 on Sunday, Ian Howarth made 70 and Daniel Cheesbrough was thought to score one of the fastest 50s in the league with their victory over Ribblesdale Wanderers.
It pushed Harwood up to second in the Jennings Ribblesdale League, although Cherry Tree have a nine point advantage and victory today for the Preston Old Road side would have sealed them the League title leaving Harwood, perhaps, downbeat.
"It could make them feel like that, but I'm not sure how Harwood function," admitted the Earby captain, who has withstood this final being postponed twice already -- once because it clashed with the Inter-League final and once because of the weather. "If it was Earby, I am sure we would feel a bit demoralised at losing the League title but it can have the other effect - it could make Harwood more determined.
"They are a good side but we are not too worried about them. It may sound silly, as we have only one win in seven games, but we won 10 games without defeat before that and I feel quite confident that if we click then we'll win it.
"After all, this is our season now. This is what everything has been geared to over the last few weeks."
Clarkson will be looking on the likes of professional Alex Scholefield to come up with the goods - the pro is competing in his second cup final in two years after winning the Worsley Cup with Todmorden in the Lancashire League last summer.
"Alex is a big game player. He has taken 50 wickets this season and I'm sure he will be the first to admit he should have got a few more runs.
"But he is one for the occasion and 50 runs and five wickets will do nicely!"
And Earby - who last won the cup in 1991 - may feel they have an advantage after playing on the Clitheroe wicket last Sunday.
"We got the chance to have a look at it and to be honest we were unlucky to lose at Clitheroe.
"We scored 85 off the last ten overs, it was just in the middle bit where we lost out way, so we know what we are capable of and what the wicket is about."
For Great Harwood though winning the cup would be the perfect way for Houldsworth to sign off as captain.
He only took up the role for one year, but has had a successful season and a cup would be a perfect end.
"This is our chance for silverware and it is the second biggest thing we can win," said the captain, who was involved in Harwood's last two cup wins in 1990 and 1995 -- although he missed the last final as he was on holiday.
"We have beaten Earby twice this season so we will be favourites but they are a good side and I think it will be tight.
"I do though like playing at Clitheroe. It is a good ground and we've already won there in the cup this season."
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