EDENFIELD can play a major part in the destiny of the Vaux Ribblesdale League.

John Kershaw's men travel to second-placed Clitheroe tomorrow - but without their skipper who has torn a thigh muscle.

And a shock victory would hand Cherry Tree the chance of clinching the title on Sunday.

But Edenfield - currently lying in fifth place, eight points behind Great Harwood - are more concerned with their own final standing than the race for the title.

Kershaw said: "We have still third place to play for.

"But if we cannot get up for games against Clitheroe, and Cherry Tree the following week, we shouldn't be playing."

Edenfield are one of a number of sides whose inconsistency has cost them a tilt at the championship. Their strong batting line-up has failed to fire on a regular basis despite the efforts of professional John Ashley, who has agreed terms for next season after scoring 742 runs at an average of 53 in addition to taking 33 wickets.

The side's bowling has been steady, with only two sides scoring more than 200 runs against the Edenfield attack, while lacking an incisive edge. But there will be more than league positions to play for at Chatburn Road tomorrow.

Edenfield were one of the few sides to defeat Jonathan Fielding's men this season.

And there is a touch of "feeling" between the two sides.

Kershaw said: "They are certainly one of the sides Edenfield like to beat.

"It dates back to when Ian Wrigglesworth was professional, soon after we joined the league.

"We are not out to do Cherry Tree a favour, as we feel we have a few scores to settle there after the cup semi-final.

"We are looking to do ourselves a favour with a win tomorrow."

Cherry Tree travel to Barnoldswick with a huge 15 point lead and five games remaining including Sunday's derby fixture with Blackburn Northern.

Northern host a benefit game for Chetan Sharma today (2.30pm start) featuring a host of world stars against a Wasim Akram XI.

Fixtures: Barnoldswick v Cherry Tree; Baxenden v Blackburn Northern; Clitheroe v Edenfield; Great Harwood v Ribblesdale Wanderers; Read v Earby; Settle v Padiham; Whalley v Os Immanuel

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.