RAWTENSTALL’S Joe McCluskie can fire his side to a top four finish in the Lancashire League – that’s the view of his team-mate Nick Payne.

McCluskie hit his highest league score of his career with a fine 66 as Rawtenstall got the better of Haslingden on Sunday.

The result leaves Bret Pelser’s side in fifth place, but just 10 points off second place in the squabble to catch league leaders Burnley.

And Payne believes McCluskie, a winter signing from Ribblesdale League outfit Edenfield, can help them push on.

“He batted brilliantly on Sunday,” said Payne of the opener.

“He never really looks in trouble and it is great to see.

“We didn’t really bat well aside from Joe but he held the innings together really .

“His batting and Bret’s bowling won us the game really.

“Bret hasn’t really fired with the bat yet either so hopefully he will get some runs and we can look to finish in the top four or five.”

McCluskie’s knock underpinned the home side’s 178 all out before Pelser took 5-31 as Haslingden were dismissed for 129.

Payne believes the victory can be a catalyst for a winning run.

Rawtenstall are the only team to have got the better of leaders Burnley so far this season while they have also won away at second-placed Ramsbottom.

“To win at Burnley and Ramsbottom proves we can be up there.

“We have lost a couple of games poorly but hopefully we can go on a bit of a run now.

“It is a very tight league at the moment aside from Burnley.”

Rawtenstall head to Bacup this weekend and Payne admits the trip is one his side have earmarked as a win.

He added: “We went into the season with a list of games we thought we could win and we would have put Bacup in that .

“They have one of the best bowling pro’s in the league and we cannot underestimate them.

“They will go into the game as underdogs but we have found that teams play us thinking they should be beating us as a few years ago we were the whipping boys and last year Bacup struggled so you can’t look at what they did in the past.

“It will be a tough game but if we are to finish in the top five then it is the sort of game we have to be winning.”