Ribblesdale League

JONATHAN Fielding is looking to sign off an a high note with some silverware should this prove to be his last season as Clitheroe's professional.

And this weekend's double header against Padiham and town rivals Ribblesdale Wanderers is an important one in Clitheroe's quest to stay up among the Ribblesdale League pacesetters.

"This is possibly my last season. I need a change and because of that I am looking to win something, league or cup, and the lads know that," said Fielding who is in his fifth season at Chatburn Road.

The slow left-armer believes Clitheroe are well equipped to mount a sustained challenge on two fronts despite the loss of prolific batsman Andy Robinson - provided they get their bowling right.

Fielding has led by example so far with 24 wickets in four league games, inlcuding a best return of 7-67 against Barnoldswick. He has extracted some bite and turn from the damp early season tracks and as a result Clitheroe have won three of their four league games and beaten Oswaldwistle in the Vaux Ramsbottom Cup when the pro made an unbeaten 61.

Padiham lead the way, however, with the only 100 per cent record in the league, making tomorrow's game an important one.

"It's a big game," acknowledged Fielding. "It's too early to tell who will be up there at the end of the season but they are likely to be challenging.

"No matter if we play them now or later in the season that makes it a big game.

"I know Mark Harvey from our days at Lancashire and if we get him early we have got a good chance. Looking at the fixtures with all due respect to the other teams they haven't played any of the top sides and hopefully we will beat them." After taking on Harvey tomorrow, Clitheroe will meet another useful pro on Sunday when they make the short trip to face Wanderers.

Fielding rates Shahid Nawaz as the best batsman in the league and added: "It's always a big game for the lads. It's one they want to win and we have done well against them over the last few years.

"I hope we can get 12 points from the weekend. You can afford to lose three or four games but if you lose more than that you are not going to win the league so the double headers are very important - especially against Padiham."

Sunday's league fixture means Fielding will miss Cumbria's opening limited overs cup tie.

But he should be back by the time they start their Minor Counties campaign and Fielding is optimistic about Cumbria's prospects following the addition of former Yorkshire opener Ashley Metcalfe to an already strong side.

Derbyshire are Cumbria's NatWest Trophy opponents and Fielding is hopeful of an upset.

"If anybody is going to beat a county side it could be us this year.

"Every two or three years somebody beats a county and if they have a bad day and we have a good one we could beat them," he said.

One more big date in Fielding's diary is the Minor Counties' game against the touring South Africans at Stone on.

"It's a great day with a big crowd. You play on a league ground so it's packed and you are playing an international side," added Fielding who will be hoping to fare better than the mauling he took at the hands of the Australians last summer.

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