RIBBLESDALE Wanderers have moved to the top of the Ribblesdale League after champions Settle slipped to a surprise defeat at Read.

Wanderers remain the only unbeaten team in the league after beating fellow title contenders Padiham to climb to the top of the pile with four games remaining.

The two teams met at the Arbories knowing victory would put them in pole position should Settle slip up.

Padiham batted first and thanks to a half century from Owen Deakin-Pickard set what appeared to be a challenging total of 177-7.

In reply, Ribblesdale got off to a good start with openers Mack Spencer and Eddie Steinson (53) adding 84 for the first wicket.

Andrew Needham then took over and made a quick-fire 58 not out ending the game with three huge sixes. Wanderers reached the required total for the loss of only two wickets and with over eight overs to spare.

Settle suffered a first defeat of the season at Read to throw the title race wide open.

Batting first the visitors made 128-9 in their allotted overs. In reply, Read got off to a good start thanks to 40 from Will Wrathall. However, they lost four quick wickets to put the game on a knife edge.

But an unbeaten knock of 38 from Jack Wood got them over the winning line with a couple of overs to spare and three wickets in hand.

Barnoldswick are up to third thanks to a six-wicket win over Oswaldtwistle Immanuel.

Ossie batted first and were quickly in trouble losing both openers with only three on the board. Phil Howard (15) and Anthony Dignam (14) tried to rebuild the innings but could never get on top of the bowling on a difficult wicket.

Despite 24 extras and several dropped catches, Oswaldtwistle were all out for just 76. Jack Rietschel took three wickets with two for Jonny Beech.

In reply, Barnoldswick lost both openers with 15 on the board, Andeas

Sudnik taking both wickets, one to a stunning diving catch.

However, Majid Iniyat took the attack to the bowlers and made 33 not and with his captain Jonny Beech saw Barnoldswick home by six wickets with 20 overs to spare. Sudnik took,k all four wickets to fall for 22 runs.

Salesbury’s title hopes suffered a setback after their match with Cherry Tree was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Brinscall picked up a third win of the season thanks to a victory over Feniscowles.

Feniscowles batted first and made 116-9 mainly thanks to Mini Bhada who made 42. Sam Maclachlan took 3-11 and Daniel Hayes 3-24. Brinscall looked to be cruising to victory when openers Liam Winstanley (28) and Stuart Parker (48) put on 80 for the first wicket. A collapse put the result in doubt but they got over the line with just three wickets in hand. There were two wicket each for Mark McGovern and Christopher Bleasdale.

Whalley remain bottom of the table after losing to fellow strugglers Earby.

Batting first, Earby posted 188-3 with a maiden 50 from opener Jake Greenbank and a quick-fire half century from Luke Hipgrave the pick of the innings.

Due to rain, Whalley were set a revised target of 143 off 27 overs but fell 26 runs short – Max Seedle,getting into the late 20s, the pick of the Whalley batsmen.