RIBBLESDALE Wanderers are aiming to lift their first Jennings Ribblesdale League title in nearly 40 years this summer after making a couple of shrewd additions over the winter.

Last season's Rambottom Cup winners and league runners-up will start the season as the favourites to stop Padiham from clinching a third successive title after tempting former professional Michael Ward back to Church Meadow as an amateur.

Ward, and Whalley's David O'Neill, have bolstered Wanderers' amateur resources whilst record breaking batsman Shahid Nawaz has also returned for a third summer as professional with the club.

Reigning champions Padiham will again rely on the same pool of amateurs which have delivered successive league titles.

But Ajay Sharma is the new paid man at the Arbories, replacing Mark Harvey.

Cherry Tree, who finished third last season, again welcome back popular Pakistani professional Naeem Ashraf.

But the Preston Old Road club have lost opening bowler John Hughes to Didsbury and wicketkeeper Lee Kennedy will miss the start of the season after damaging his knee ligaments.

Great Harwood are hoping to end their 100 year wait for the league title after recruiting India A's explosive opener Ashu Dani as their new professional. But the Cliffe Park club have made no extra additions on the amateur front whilst Richard Lamb has left to join Blackpool.

Former Haslingden opening bowler Liam Bones has linked up with Baxenden, who again have Ronnie Davis as pro.

And last season's bottom club, Blackburn Northern, are hoping for big things from new Pakistani paceman Ata-ur-Rehman.

But promising youngster Darren Walton has quit Pleckgate Road to follow last season's paid man, Mark Lomas, to Blackpool.

Whalley could be in for a difficult summer after losing three of their top amateurs.

Former skipper Mark Fallon has joined Greenmount, Darryl Redhead has left for Cherry Tree and while O'Neill has linked up with Ribblesdale Wanderers.

Indian run-machine Surendra Bhave is back at Settle for a third successive season and they have further strengthened their batting resources by recruiting their former pro David Jolleys from Lancaster.

Clitheroe look set to improve on last season's fifth place after signing former Lancashire spinner Dexter Fitton as their new professional.

But like Earby, who again have Jonathan Harvey as their paid man, they have not managed to strengthen on the amateur front. Read will be looking to force their way into the top five this term after finishing sixth last season.

Veteran Aussie Peter Sleep will again have his eye on 1,000 runs after agreeing to stay at Whalley Road for another season.

Exciting young spinner Jonathan Pickup has left Barnoldswick to join Burnley in the Lancashire League.

But former Widnes off-spinner Ian Quinn has linked up with Edenfield, who have Steven Kirby as professional.

Meanwhile, Oswaldtwistle Immanuel have fitness worries over professional Russell Whalley who recently underwent an operation.

But the former Rishton man is expected to start the season at Earby tomorrow.

Tomorrow's fixtures: Barnoldswick v Great Harwood, Baxenden v Clitheroe, Blackburn Northern v Read, Cherry Tree v Settle, Earby v Oswaldtwistle Immanuel, Edenfield v Padiham, Ribblesdale Wanderers v Whalley.