CHERRY Tree attempt to emulate Clitheroe's record of three successive Ramsbottom Cup victories tomorrow.

And skipper David Hayes has more reason than most to desire a slice of cup history.

For he was a member of the Cherry Tree side which twice lost in successive finals to that Clitheroe side, in 1987 and 1988.

But tomorrow's opponents Ribblesdale Wanderers have their own points to prove on home soil.

The Clitheroe outfit were trounced two seasons ago in the 1997 final at Baxenden.

And, going into today's round of league fixtures, Wanderers were just one point behind their table-topping opponents.

Wanderers, without skipper Terry Braithwaite who is on holiday, are also out to shake off the "one man team" tag with pro Shahid Nawaz in such outstanding form.

But Hayes admitted: "I don't think you can be in the cup final and be second in the league and be a one man team.

"Stand-in skipper Graham Monk is top of the amateur bowling averages, David Howard is a good player and Martin Briggs was joint league player of the year last year.

"But it would be foolish to suggest that Nawaz is not the main man. "Our pro Naeem Ashraf, though, is also a match winner on his own. He is explosive with the ball and bat.

"It is excellent news that his contract for next season has been sorted out so quickly."

Cherry Tree go into the game without a key player of their own, with Gary Bolton also on vacation.

There was some good news this week when Nigel Robbins declared himself fit after fracturing a cheek bone in last weekend's game against Baxenden.

He will form part of the attack that must shackle Nawaz.

Hayes added: "We have just got to hope that if he hits it in the air we catch it.

"He's a top player but he is human."

Monk puts the success of Nawaz, who is on target to break his own league record after topping 1,000 runs last weekend, down to his newly-settled home life.

Last season he stayed with relatives, travelled from Manchester for games and did not have his own car.

Now he lives in Clitheroe with his wife child and is two minutes from the ground.

Monk said: "He is a good fellow to bowl at - in the nets surrounded by string. "He is enjoying occupying the crease and he wants to win something.

"He has had some luck. In most of his innings he has been dropped once and made the most of it.

"But Shahid has actually put the ball on the ground a lot more this year than he has before."

Monk, though, recognises the threat posed by Nawaz's Pakistani counterpart, Ashraf.

"Naeem is the best bowling pro and Shahid is the best batting pro in the league but I think it is unfair to the amateurs to concentrate too much on the professionals.

"We rely heavily on the pro's batting but also have a reasonable bowling line-up."

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