THE accent is very much on youth as Earby attempt to recapture their championship style of two years ago in the Vaux Ribblesdale League, writes PETER WHITE.

And, while it's early days yet, an excellent start prompts nothing but positive thoughts from skipper Steve Rushton.

Preparing for the big Craven derby at Barnoldswick tomorrow, the Earby captain said: "It has been very pleasing so far. We had no option but to rebuild and we have a very young side at the moment.

"It must be one of the youngest in the league, with six lads of 21 and under, as five players have had to be replaced from the side which won the league two years ago.

"But it seems to be working very well. The team seems to have gelled, we have five bowlers, bat well down and are as good a fielding side as there is in the league.

"Our professional Jonathan Harvey has also had a good start with three half centuries already.

"He just missed out on 1,000 runs last season and I would think he's in with a chance of making it this time after his start.

"But he is a also a genuine all-rounder."

Few, if any, suggested Earby when the pre-season tips were being made and Rushton is delighted with that. "We would rather it stayed like that with nobody mentioning us," he said. "The derby game means a lot to the Earby lads in the side and we have a very good spirit as you might expect with so many lads of the same age.

"It's definitely a happy team, we have made a positive start and hopefully I will still be saying that on Monday morning!"

Earby went into the weekend's double-header joint second with Cherry Tree and Whalley. Their rivals play teams at the wrong end of the table tomorrow, as do leaders Padiham in the shape of neighbours Read.

Tomorrow's games: Barnoldswick v Earby, Cherry Tree v Blackburn N, Edenfield v Baxenden, Oswaldtwistle Imm v Gt Harwood, Padiham v Read, Ribblesdale W v Clitheroe, Whalley v Settle.

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