JONATHAN Harvey led Baxenden to a seven point victory on Saturday, lifting the club into third place in the Jennings Ribblesdale League.

The Back Lane professional took five wickets and was backed up by Pete Usher who also captured five victims as Ribblesdale Wanderers were dismissed for 178. John Rayne scored 54 and 15-year-old Ryan Goodwin added a superb 38.

Baxenden secured a run-rate victory with 111-6 off 25 overs with Simon Payne 42 not out and Andrew Chippendale undefeated on 18 securing the win.

Padiham also secured a run-rate win over Clitheroe. Phil Metcalfe scored 52 for the Arbories side as Martin Hargreaves picked up 5-43.

Padiham's total of 165-9 was enough to see them to the points with Clitheroe on 116-6 at the close.

Barnoldswick took the honours in a tight game at Oswaldtwistle's New Lane ground. The visitors reached 105-6 in their reduced overs game and the home side fell just seven runs short on 98-5 despite a fighting 48 from Gerrard Metcalfe.

Rain washed out all the other games, leaving Cherry Tree eight points ahead of Read at the top of the table. The top club had to be satisfied with two points from their trip to Earby when the game was washed out after a handful of deliveries.

There was no play at all in the game against Edenfield and Blackburn Northern and Read had scored 25-1 in 12 overs when the heavens opened at Whalley.

Great Harwood had made it to 129-5 with Cameron McKay on 44, but the game Australian import showed his frustration with the English weather as the game was brought to a halt.

The Manchester Evening News Inter-League knockout final between the Jennings Ribblesdale League and the Bolton League which was due to be played yesterday was postponed and is new due to be played on Bank Holiday Monday, August 27. Scores: Baxenden 111-6 (7) Ribblesdale Wdrs 178 (0); Oswaldtwistle 98-5 (0) Barnoldswick 105-6 (5); Padiham 165-9 (5) Clitheroe 116-6 (0); Settle dnb (2) Great Harwood 129-5 (2); Whalley dnb (2) Read 25-1 (2); Earby v Cherry Tree and Edenfield v Blackburn (two points each).

SENIOR DIVISION

P W L Bp Nr Pts

Cherry Tree... 21 13 4 16 4 89

Read... 21 11 4 14 6 81

Gt Harwood... 21 12 5 10 4 78

Blackburn N... 21 10 6 12 5 72

Earby... 21 8 9 14 4 62

Barnoldswick... 21 9 10 12 2 61

Padiham... 21 8 10 10 3 56

Settle... 20 6 9 12 5 52

Ribblesdale W... 21 7 10 8 4 51

Clitheroe... 21 6 11 12 4 50

Edenfield... 20 6 10 10 4 48

Whalley... 21 6 10 6 5 46

Oswaldtwistle Imm... 21 4 14 14 3 40