GLYN HARGREAVES has been given the unenvious task of leading Baxenden off the bottom of the Ribblesdale League after Mark Rishton resigned as skipper.

And while the 38-year-old middle order batsman was unable to work instant miracles in his first game in charge against Barnoldswick - the former Haslingden player is confident his side can rise from the ashes.

He said: "It is a great honour to be captain and the lads are rallying around me. It was a shame Mark had to step down as skipper but he admitted himself that the burden of being captain had affected his form. I'm quite confident that won't happen to me although I would like to be getting more runs."

Hargreaves now wants his fellow amateurs to knuckle down to back professional David Usher who has been in superb form in recent weeks. That lack of back up was evident on Saturday when Baxenden were bowled out for 152 - with Usher hitting an unbeaten 102.

Hargreaves added: "That is disappointing but we are constantly striving to improve our standards. We lost four or five first team players during the close season and that was a blow. But spirit within the club is very high and the only way from here is up." Fixtures Saturday: Barnoldswick v Ribblesdale W, Clitheroe v Settle, Earby v Osw Immanuel, Edenfield v Blackburn N, Gt Harwood v Baxenden, Padiham v Cherry Tree, Read v Whalley.

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