THE Ribblesdale League’s top three will look to further stretch clear of the chasing pack tomorrow – but leaders Baxenden, second-placed Barnoldswick and third-placed Read all face tests of their mettle.

Baxenden were beaten at Whalley last time out and face an intriguing Back Lane game with unpredictable Padiham, who have shown this season that they are more than capable of upsetting anyone, while Barlick head to Blackburn for their clash at Cherry Tree.

Andreas Sudnik’s men are much improved after their sluggish start to the campaign and professional Paul Turner has started to find his form with the bat and is he can come out on top of his battle with Barlick pro Jaffar Nazir, the game could turn out to be a classic.

Read are in third spot and are just six points off the lead – but they only have five bonus points with the top two much better off in that department.

Read’s crushed Edenfield last time out – but failed to claim bowling points when they couldn’t bowl out Greg Smithson’s men despite having almost seven overs at the last pair.

They entertain Earby at Whalley Road.

Whalley are the form side but they face a tough game when they make the short trip to revitalised Clitheroe.

Richard Palmer has led Whalley into fourth spot in the league and to the semi-finals of the Ramsbottom Cup and they are hard to beat this time around.

Ribblesdale Wanderers are in sixth spot and head into Yorkshire looking to pile on the agony for bottom side Settle, while Edenfield have slumped from top after three games to 13th after 12 thanks to nine defeats on the spin.

They go to Great Harwood desperate for a change of fortunes, while Salesbury host Oswaldtwistle in the day’s other game.

Fixtures

Baxenden v Padiham, Cherry Tree v Barnoldswick, Clitheroe v Whalley, Great Harwood v Edenfield, Read v Earby, Salesbury v Oswaldtwistle Immanuel, Settle v Ribblesdale Wanderers