SUPER-CONFIDENT Cherry Tree skipper David Hayes believes his team will win both the cup and the league this year as his team prepare to do battle against last year's cup winners Read this weekend.

"We'll win both this year, we're very confident of that," he told the Citizen.

His conviction stems in part from the fact that Cherry Tree, currently third in the league and in the cup semi-finals, will have a full strength side for the first time this season as their university players have returned.

The side, which hasn't won the league since 1989, is on a roll and being only three points away from leaders Great Harwood, a three point victory could theoretically see them go top of the table.

However, they are aware that Read's recent bad run, which has left them in fifth place, may be coming to an end as their opening bowler will be back from injury this week.

"We know it's going to be a very hard game and it's the biggest test we've had for a few weeks, but we're confident we'll win," said Hayes. Fixtures, Saturday: Barnoldswick v Oswaldtwistle Imm, Baxenden v Ribblesdale W, Blackburn N v Whalley, Gt Harwood v Edenfield, Padiham v Clitheroe, Read v Cherry Tree, Settle v Earby.

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