AUSSIE ace James Peterson today warned his Barnoldswick team-mates to take nothing for granted when they face "whipping boys" Whalley at Victory Park tomorrow.

The 23-year-old from Sydney has steered Barnoldswick into third spot in the Vaux Ribblesdale League with a series of powerful knocks that have put him fourth in the batting averages.

Four straight victories to start the season were followed by consecutive defeats to Earby and Baxenden before a return to winning ways against Settle last weekend.

Peterson took a tasty six for 30 in that game and wants his side to consolidate on that victory.

But he has cautioned against underrating the only team still to win a point this season.

"Whalley are not a consistent side but they're capable whenever they hit form," said Peterson, who has a degree in sports administration from Canberra University.

"If our lads need any reminding of that, they need only cast their minds back to last season when we came up against Whalley on one of their very good days and lost out.

"So we can't take anything for granted.

"But I'm hoping we can build on last week's performance and begin a successful run again after a couple of defeats spolied our excellent start to the season." Barnoldswick surprised more than a few observers last season with their fourth place finish.

But they have already proven this season that they are no "one-season wonders".

Peterson believes they have a side capable of building on last year's relative success. "Read might be a little stronger than everyone else, even though it's early days," he said.

"But there's a platform of about three or four teams immediately below and we're right among them.

"My own performances have been steady - the wickets are a little softer than last season and my strokeplay has been restricted.

"But if I do well it will lift the rest of the team.

"We have a good line of amateurs in the middle order and I'm looking for them to fire if we can be consistent.

"We're not looking to any great aspirations but if we play to our potential we can be up among the big players all season."

Tomorrow's fixtures: Barnoldswick v Whalley, Baxenden v Read, Great Harwood v Edenfield, Oswaldtwistle Immanuel v Earby, Padiham v Clitheroe, Ribblesdale Wanderers v Cherry Tree, Settle v Blackburn Northern.

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