BLACKBURN Northern's hopes of making an early impression in the Ribblesdale Cricket League backfired as they were sunk by Padiham to slip to the bottom of the table.

Northern batted first but could only reach 96 and the The Arbories side reached their total for the loss of six wickets.

Whalley picked up their first win of the season with a suprise two wicket victory over much fancied Great Harwood with Simon Gorton claiming five wickets.

Mark Lawrence grabbed six wickets as Oswaldtwistle leapt to fourth in the league with a maximum points win over struggling Baxenden.

And Cherry Tree fell to a last over defeat against new leaders Clitheroe with Neil Bolton destroying the Preston Old Road side's hopes of a famous victory with three wickets in the last over.

Results: Baxenden 92, Oswaldtwistle Imm 95/7 (7pts); Blackburn N 96, Padiham 98/6 (7); Cherry Tree 201, Clitheroe 202 (7); Earby 142, Ribblesdale W 241/6 (7); Edenfield 144/3 (5), Settle 140/9 ; Read 97/1 (7), Barnoldswick 96; Whalley 124/8 (5), Gt Harwood 123/9.

Previous news story

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