CLITHEROE skipper Neil Bolton is urging his team to learn lessons from the past if they are to lifT the Veka Ribblesdale Senior League title this year.

The Chatburn Road side last won the championship in 1994 when Victorian Ian Wrigglesworth led Clitheroe to glory.

But Bolton thinks that his side must learn the lessons of that era if they are to bring too trophy back to Clitheroe this year.

He said: "It'll come down to games where we're struggling that will decide our fate.

"I remember a game in 1994 against Padiham where we were down to eight and nine and we still needed 100 to win. On that day, the number nine batsman got a half-century and saw us through and that's what we'll need to do this year."

Bolton pointed to the early season defeat by Baxenden as evidence of this. Clitheroe, batting first, stumbled to 135 all out and Baxenden were able to knock the runs off to hand the title favourites a shock reverse.

And it's the kind of result that Bolton is keen to avoid for the rest of the campaign.

He added: "That was a terrible batting performance but give credit to Baxenden, they did well.

"Jonathan Fielding bowled really well and put a bit of pressure on our top four. But our batsmen committed suicide. We were trying to play big shots and we paid the price.

"The batters need to show a bit more application and I think we could do with one more top quality batsman someone who could guarantee you 600 runs a year. Bowling wise, we're as strong as anybody in the league.

"This is my sixth year as captain and this is by far the best team we've had. We should have won the league last year and we only have ourselves to blame that we didn't.

"It's 12 years since we last won the title and that's a long time. We have Josh Marquet who's bowling quick and our other amateur bowlers have been taking their fair share of wickets as well.

"We haven't played the likes of Settle or Great Harwood yet and they'll be the biggest tests but I'm expecting us to be up there come the end of the season."