KEITH Roscoe blasted the Vaux Ribblesdale League season off to a flying start - taking nine wickets against Earby.

The Edenfield professional saw Lee Parkinson take 5-59 for Earby before he stepped up and wiped out the strong Applegarth batting line-up, with 9-57 from 21.3 overs.

"It was just one of those days when everything went right for me," said a delighted Roscoe.

"It wasn't as though I bowled brilliantly -though one or two were good balls.

"Three or four catches went down at the other end but the lads tended to hang on to mine."

Six of his victimes were caught, two stumped and one bowled.

Edenfield finished third last season and Roscoe is hoping his men can have another successful summer.

"It is a good start for us and if the batsmen can give Jon Kershaw some support then hopefully we can do well."

The haul is Roscoe's career best beating the 8 for 34 he recorded for Bacup against Haslingden in 1981.

"It has been a long time coming," he laughed.

The Rossendale Valley club were one of seven sides to pick up maximum points on the opening day.

Mick Lord claimed 5-30 as Cherry Tree collapsed to 94 all out with Barnoldswick taking a comfortable seven-wicket victory. Matthew Cheesbrough rattled up 56 for Great Harwood as they defeated Clitheroe, but they could not claim the vital last wicket to pick up the bonus points. Joseph Grant, new professional at Padiham, earned his fee with a half century and six wickets in a comfortable win over Blackburn Northern.

Highest score of the day came from Read professional Shaid Nawaz, who piled on 152 accompanied by Terry Little (53) in a 172-run victory over Whalley.

Ribblesdale Wanderers professional Gurdinder Singh gave warning of another good season ahead with 53 and 6-38 against Baxenden who ran out of steam despite an innings of 76 from John Bushell after professional Andrew Payne had taken 6-39 to dismiss Ribblesdale.

Settle also collected maximum points with victory over Oswaldtwistle, but it was Roger Watson who produced the performance of the game, taking 5-28 for Immanuel.

RESULTS: Cherry Tree 94, Barnoldswick 95-3 (7 pts); Edenfield 159-9 (7), Earby 141; Great Harwood 140-5 (5), Clitheroe 135-9; Padiham 114-5 (7), Blackburn Northern 112; Read 274-5 (7), Whalley 102; Ribblesdale Wanderers 160 (7), Baxenden 137; Settle 115-9 (7), Oswaldtwistle Immanuel 103.

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