SETTLE skipper Tony "Tiger" Cokell is delighted with the turnaround in the Vaux Ribblesdale Cricket League club's fortunes so far this season.

But he is the first to admit that their biggest tests still lie ahead, starting tomorrow with a visit to in-form Great Harwood.

Cokell, known to almost everyone by his long-time nickname "Tiger" - though he declines to reveal its origin! - has enjoyed taking over as captain.

And he believes the pre-season work put in by the players is starting to pay off after the disappointments of 1995 when Settle finished joint bottom.

"We have changed things round a bit and we netted all the way through from January this year," said Cokell.

"I wasn't prepared to accept what happened last season but the lads have knuckled down and it has helped to bring everyone together.

"There's a bit of spirit in the side and, so far, the players have done very well."

The Yorkshire club have moved into third place, on the heels of joint leaders Read and Barnoldswick, to banish memories of last summer's dismal showing.

But "Tiger" knows that his team have still to show their teeth against the better sides if they are to make a genuine challenge for honours.

And tomorrow's game at Great Harwood should be such a test.

"It should certainly give us an idea of how far we have come," said Cokell. "It will be a big test with Chris Killen having run into form.

"And it's a 'biggy' in another way too, because we have to visit them the following week in the Ramsbottom Cup."

First defeats for Read and Barnoldswick last weekend have seen the table tighten up but both face games against opposition from the bottom half tomorrow.

Read, with professional Shahid Nawaz showing that if he fails with the bat he can be a destroyer with the ball, are at home to Oswaldtwistle Immanuel while Barnoldswick travel to Baxenden.

The Back Lane boys, of course, were involved in that remarkable tie with Edenfield last weekend.

Whalley are still searching for their first point of the season, Paul Mackintosh being their only batsman to reach double figures in a comprehensive defeat by Earby.

They face another difficult challenge at Station Road tomorrow against improving Blackburn Northern who just pipped leaders Read in a thriller before routing neighbours Cherry Tree.

Tomorrow's games: Baxenden v Barnoldswick, Cherry Tree v Clitheroe, Earby v Padiham, Gt Harwood v Settle, Read v Osw Immanuel, Ribblesdale W v Edenfield, Whalley v Blackburn N.

DARWEN will be hoping that professional Peter Skuse benefits from his midweek experiences with Surrey seconds as the Vaux Northern Cricket League side have two big Bank Holiday weekend games. Tomorrow, Darwen entertain champions Morecambe at Birch Hall, with Chris Lowe back in the side. Tony Beesley drops out. On Monday, they face a tough derby game away to title favourites Chorley, with Duncan Whalley stepping in to replace Graeme Parkinson.

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