READ captain Nick Marsh reckons Saturday's shock defeat at the hands of Oswaldtwistle Immanuel has focused the player's minds on the task ahead.

Strugglers Immanuel, who lie second-from-bottom of the Jennings Ribblesdale League, beat the league leaders by 13 runs to give Cherry Tree top spot for 24 hours.

But Read's demolition of Settle on Sunday won them back first place in the table.

"Historically, we have a bad record against Oswaldtwistle. They have beaten us a few times over the last four or five seasons," said Marsh.

"They beat us on the final day of the season in 1996 and that stopped us from winning the league and since then they have been our bogey team.

"Several of the senior players were worried about Saturday's game beforehand."

But Marsh praised Oswaldtwistle -- who failed to carry on the winning momentum on Sunday when they were beaten by bottom club Whalley -- for their performance.

"They batted pretty well," he said. "The pro batted well and bowled well too. But we were coasting at 62-0 and then collapsed.

"Then we went 110 for eight and that cost us.

"But Warren Eastham got us back in it with 30 and got us within three runs of the total but we didn't quite make it.

"I've spoken to quite a few players from other clubs who've said 'What happened to you lot on Saturday?'

"We batted pretty poorly but we should have won."

The defeat had a positive effect on the players, who went to Settle 24 hours later and won by eight wickets.

"We slaughtered them," said Marsh. "The Oswaldtwistle defeat focused our minds. We were disappointed but we have to keep everything in perspective.

"We went nine games unbeaten before that."

Settle, who had had a good result against Clitheroe the day before, were the victims of a backlash.

"I think Settle were unlucky to play us on Sunday," said Marsh. "The defeat really focused our attitude.

"I still think no one thinks we can win the league, though, but we have only lost two games in 13 and if we carry on like that we will be there or there abouts.

"We have a good mix of youth and experience with a good bunch of young lads and then three or four who are 35 to 45.

"We've beaten everyone at the top of the table already and now we are going into the second half of the season the fixtures get reversed so if we continue the way we have been doing there is no reason why we can't do well." Read last won the league in 1979 and Marsh, after three years as captain, would love to take them there again, especially after coming so close five years ago.

"It is what you set out to do at the beginning of the season," he said. "But I don't think we'll think much more about it until September.

"Nobody expected us to win the league and I don't think anybody expects us to now so we don't feel that we're under any pressure." I have spoken to quite a few players from other clubs who have said: 'What happened to you lot on Saturday?