OSWALDTWISTLE Immanuel skipper Jack Harrison hailed the club’s maiden Ribblesdale League title as a brilliant achievement after his side were crowned champions with a game to spare.

Ossie beat Baxenden and Euxton in last weekend’s double-header to claim the championship and cap a remarkable season for the club.

And Harrison, in his first year as captain, admitted the achievement was still sinking in with his side seeing off a challenge from 2017 champions Settle.

“It was a brilliant weekend.” he said. “We haven’t played our best cricket in the last few weeks but Settle kept losing when we lost and we were able to get over the line.

“It is my first season as captain and I wouldn’t have believed it if you had said to me before the season started that we would be league champions.

“The club have worked really hard and there are a lot of people who have put a lot into it, not just the players.”

Ossie joined the Ribblesdale League in 1993 and have tasted Ramsbottom Cup glory in that time but never claimed the league title.

“There were a lot of friends and family at the club who were able to enjoy it,” he said.

“It is our first senior league title since joining the Ribblesdale League and it means a lot.

“People like Gerard Metcalfe, the chairman, have put a lot of hard work into the club and he is just one of many, there are so many people like him who help out.”

Ossie earned an eight wicket win over Baxenden on Saturday setting up a chance to claim the title against Euxton. And they made no mistake, bowling their hosts out for just 44 before securing a nine-wicket win.

“Saturday was a really good performance against Baxenden,” Harrison added. “On Sunday we bowled really well to get Euxton out cheaply and managed to knock the target off.

“We have Barnoldswick away this weekend to finish the season and we want to win that and finish on a high.

“We don’t want to take our foot off the gas now.”

Indeed, Harrison is already looking ahead to next season and the chance to add further silverware to the club’s trophy cabinet.

He added: “Next year we want to do well again. We would love to win the Ramsbottom Cup and also retain the league title. If we want to keep improving then these are the targets we have to set ourselves.

“Across the group we have got lads who have been through a lot this season of having to deal with pressure situations and to come up with good performances and they have managed to do that and that experience will stand us in good stead.

“We will keep a lot of this squad together, it is a really local club and I think there is probably only me and one other lad who travel into play. For the others it is the club they have grown up watching and playing for.”

One man who will be returning next year is professional Shubham Khajuria who was a key performer this term. He leads the batting statistics with 1,468 runs from 20 innings.

He returned to India early and Harrison’s men have got over the line without him.

“Shub is coming back, he has been fantastic for us this season with the runs he has scored,” added the skipper.

“It will be great to welcome him back again. He Face Timed us after the game to congratulate us on winning the league and we are looking forward to him coming back.

“We are not a one-man team. There have been some great performances in every game and individuals have stood up when we have needed them.

“I said that after the game on Sunday that everyone has contributed to this victory and the players can all be really proud.”