GREAT Harwood are on course for another Ramsbottom Cup party.

But the defending 1995 cup holders will have to subdue the muscle and firepower of Barnoldswick's big hitting Aussie James Peterson to secure a cup final place on July 28.

Peterson wrote his name into the Vaux Ribblesdale record books when he became the first man to hit a league double century last weekend.

The swashbuckling all-rounder turned on the power to hammer 203 not out against Oswaldtwistle, a new record batting score in the league, and just one short of Craig Haworth's all-time record of 204 scored in the Ramsbottom Cup for Great Harwood against Earby in 1990.

Great Harwood skipper Geoff Allen said:"We've had a bit of a stranglehold on the Ramsbottom Cup for the past few years so it would be terrific boost for Great Harwood to reach the final again.

"But we'll have to bat a lot better than we've done this season. I've had no argument with our fielding and bowling this season, but our batting has been very poor. That has to improve if we are to beat Barnoldswick.

Harwood have added left-arm spinner Paul Newton to their squad for tomorrow's clash.

In the other semi-final, Earby and Read, who locked horns in a league encounter at Applegarth today, face another clash for a place in the final at the same venue.

Earby made it through to the last four with a tight quarter-final victory over Baxenden at Back Lane while Read, who had a last round bye, will be hoping there will be more fireworks from the willow of professional Shahid Nawaz.

Nawaz hammered a century in the first round against Oswaldtwistle and was in ruthless form last weekend with a classy 93 against Cherry Tree.

The prolific Read professional appears intent on re-writing the Ribblesdale League record books.

He has already scored over 600 runs and has taken 40 wickets and could become the first player in the league to do the double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in a season.

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