HONEST skipper Greg Smithson admits he would love to see his Edenfield men transfer their stunning Twenty20 form into Ribblesdale League wins – but says he still can’t understand how his side remain rooted to the foot of the table.

Smithson’s stars are proudly flying the flag for the Ribblesdale League in the Lancashire League’s Twenty20 competition and have already beaten big hitters Haslingden and Ramsbottom in some style.

But in the league, they are yet to win and skipper Smithson said: “I can’t understand it!

“I think the fact that Great Harwood and ourselves are down at the bottom shows that the standard of the league is rising – but I wish we could take our Twenty20 form into the league games.

“I think we have caught a few people by surprise and both Haslingden and Ramsbottom were at the top of the Lancashire League when we beat them.

“But we have a decent team and a few players who can hit the ball well.

“And perhaps we are suffering in the league because of the Twenty20 mentality.

"When we lost to Baxenden on Saturday we had five overs of our innings left and that is not what we want.

“We need to start using our overs – but even then we pushed Baxenden close and we’ve had a few like that.”

Edenfield received a bye through the first round of the Ramsbottom Cup but are aiming for success on that front when they play Cherry Tree in the second round on Sunday week.

“It looks like we have to concentrate on the cups after our league start,” said Smithson.

“It will be a good game with Cherry Tree and they are getting runs and also have some good bowlers so we are under no illusions.

“But we can look forward to that one, especially as the pro Raheel Majeed is looking good after his arrival. It took him a couple of weeks to bed in but he is settled now.”

One bonus is the anticipated return to action this weekend of bowler Syed Shah, who has been out injured ever since the first game of last season.

“We have been missing a strike bowler,” added Smithson.

“So that is a big boost for us against Rawtenstall on Friday night and then Padiham on Saturday.

"Padiham are a good side so we know that will be tough and in the Twenty20 against Rawtenstall we will be underdogs again.

“We are looking forward to that one - and hopefully we can keep the flag flying high for the Ribblesdale League.”