PADIHAM swept Settle aside and raced to within one point of leaders Cherry Tree at the top of the Jennings Ribblesdale League.

The Arbories club boasted a total of 213-8 and bowled Settle out for just 96. Leaders Cherry Tree had a frustrating day when early morning rain wrecked their chances of beating strugglers Oswaldtwistle Immanuel.

Ribblesdale Wanderers slipped up against Whalley who also had difficulty with the bat reaching 142-9. Professional Warren Knowles stepped in and took seven wickets for just 25 runs as Wanderers were left clinging on with nine wickets down. Earby looked to have the points in the bag against Edenfield, but were denied by a late partnership with Andy Wright scoring 53 to see the visitors to victory. Earlier Jonathan Harvey had scored 61 for the Applegarth club while stand-in professional Brad White, of Bacup, took 5-51. Stephen Hipgrave took 6-44 against Edenfield, but it was not enough. Graham Bardsley did the damage as Read picked up the points against Barnoldswick. He took 5-48 after his side had posted a total of 157-7. Barnoldswick were always behind the run rate.

Great Harwood beat Baxenden with a fighting performance after Andy Holroyd had scored 52 not out for the home side in their rain-affected game.

Richard Lamb came good for Harwood with 57 not out.

Clitheroe took seven points from Blackburn Northern.

Results: Baxenden 178-7, Gt Harwood 182-4 (5 pts); Blackburn Northern 175 all out (0), Clitheroe 197-5 (7); Earby 115-9 (0), Edenfield 116-8 (5); Oswaldtwistle v Cherry Tree no play 2 pts each; Read 157-7 (5), Barnoldswick 133-8 (0); Ribblesdale Wdrs 114-9 (0), Whalley 142-9 (5); Settle 96 (0), Padiham 213-6 (7).

Padiham made it through to the quarter-finals of the Lancashire Cup when they beat Egerton by five runs yesterday, but Cherry Tree bowed out at Glossop.

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