READ piled up the third highest score in the history of the Houldsworth Solicitors Ribblesdale League as they put new boys Brinscall to the sword as the runs flowed on a scorching Saturday.

Joe Marshall hit a marvellous 112, his first ton for the club, and skipper Kyle O’Connor charged to 87 as Read put their batting woes from the heavy defeat to Whalley behind them with a scintillating opening stand of 160.

Between them they hit 22 fours and six sixes as Brinscall were unable to find any answers.

Elliott Artingstoll’s 37 and 26 from just nine balls from Warren Eastham propelled Read to their massive total of 334-8 with only two Padiham efforts of 381 against Great Harwood in 2010 and 355 against Ribblesdale Wanderers three years previously standing above it in the all-time charts.

Brinscall were never at the races in reply but they did hold up Read and dig in, batting throught their 45 overs to close on 176-7.

That spectacular batting effort at Whalley Road took top billing away from Oswaldtwistle Immanuel, who also piled on the runs in front of a cheered crowd in the New Lane sunshine and were too good for Padiham.

That big crowd was thrilled by Daniel Metcalf, who played a quite tremendous innings to ultimately prove the difference between the teams.

After losing Oliver Jones cheaply, Metcalf and Phil Howard shared a 108-run stand for the second wicket before Howard was stumped for 48 as he tried to bring his half-century up with a flourish.

But there was no stopping Metcalf who was joined by overseas amateur Harry Allanby. They added 90 in the blink of an eye before the Australian holed out for 65 with 50 of those coming in fours and sixes.

Still Metcalf went on and brought up a magnificent century from only 96 balls in the final over before he was last man out with Immanuel closing on 273-5.

Metcalf hit eight fours and three sixes and deserved every moment of the standing ovation he received.

Young Toby Burrows was a ray of light for Padiham and bowled much better with his left-arm spin than figures of 3-76 from 13 overs would suggest, while Steve Meehan claimed the other two wickets to fall.

It was a tall order for Padiham and when Phil Metcalfe and Kevin Hitchon fell cheaply they were even more up against it.

Darryl Losper made 33 and, while Nathan Whitehead was unbeaten on 56 and Burrows made 20 batting at number 10, there was no way back with Padiham 177 all out.

Earby maintained their 100 per cent start to the season as they beat Salesbury at Ribchester Road.

Andrew Jaggers top scored with 65 while Chris Walton made 49 and skipper Richard Craddock 35 not out as Earby piled up 224-7 and with Lee Parkinson once again shining with the ball the Red Caps were knocked over for 142.

Parkinson claimed 4-26 with Susantha Pradeep’s 35 the main resistance for the hosts.

Champions Clitheroe claimed another big win, this time at Brooksbottom. Pro Janaka Gunarantne shone with both bat and ball, while Tom Lord also made a half century as Clitheroe closed on 237-8.

Gunarantne then followed up his 53 with six wickets as Brooksbottom were 118 all out, Mark Gowers making 54.

Paul Holdsworth made an unbeaten 87 and Stuart Maher then claimed another six wickets as Great Harwood were too strong for Edenfiield, winning by 100 runs after posting 222-7, while Settle gained revenge on Cherry Tree for their Ramsbottom Cup loss.

It was a tight affair as the Dalesmen got home by nine runs at Preston Old Road with the key moment being Will Davidson’s wonder catch to remove Ruan Sadler for 51.

Matt Nutter hit a fine 77 not out and Sean Lemon made 59 as Barnoldswick beat Euxton by nine wickets, while Gary Sudworth claimed five wickets as Baxenden beat Ribblesdale Wanderers. Asif Iqbal’s half-century and 30 not out from David Mills were the batting highlights for Bash.