FOR a man who has played at the pinnacle of the world game, Peter Sleep could not have been more thrilled by Read's Ramsbottom Cup victory.

As his club's supporters flocked onto the field, the former Australian Test star mustered his last few ounces of energy to run over to wife Hazel to deliver a heartfelt kiss.

And then the Read professional, who steered his side home with an unbeaten 52 after an amazing spell of bowling in the Cherry Tree innings, underlined the emotions of the occasion by dedicating the victory to batsman Graham Bardsley.

The Read batsman missed out on a final appearance following the death of his father-in-law on Saturday and his own father two weeks earlier.

Sleep said: "Graham has had a difficult time. The circumstances with his family were unfortunate and we didn't want to throw him in -- and we got away with it.

"Normally he would have been in our side because he is one of our better players."

He added: "I said to Hazel that if I was batting when we hit the winning runs I was always going to run over and give her a kiss.

"I don't think she expected it and I was a bit tired but, because I'd said that, I had to do it. "Since I have been over here since 1990 this is the first thing I have ever won, so it's very special.

"We had a tough run-in with holders Ribblesdale Wanderers in the first round, Padiham in the second and then Earby.

"To win it, we've had to play really well and proved we aren't a bad side."

Cherry Tree were up against it from the early stages of the match, thanks largely to an amazing opening spell of six overs costing just one run from Sleep. And, as he tied up one end, the wickets fell at the other.

Man-of-the-match Oliver Newby bowled the home professional Naeem Ashraf, who was dropped by Sleep off his first ball, for just two as Cherry Tree slumped to 20-5 causing the wisdom of their decision to bat first to be called into question.

But Gary Bolton and Nigel Robbins added 90 for the sixth wicket and with Bolton hitting a fine unbeaten 61, the total of 162 was enough to pose Read some questions on a slow track which hindered fluent run-scoring.

Skipper Nick Marsh, though, played a cautious anchor role with 38 and, with Sleep at the crease, Read were always going to be in control.

Cherry Tree had their chances, though, and almost captured the Aussie with the score on 60 when Alan Grogan just failed to scoop up a difficult chance off Andreas Sudnik. Then Paul Reed got his fingertips to a Sleep drive but was unable to hang on and Read raced home with three overs to spare.