READ skipper Warren Eastham today insisted it would be a travesty of justice if his side were pipped to the Jennings Ribblesdale League title by arch-rivals Barnoldswick.

Eastham and his Whalley Road team-mates go into the final game of the season with their destiny firmly in their own hands after victories over Cherry Tree and Clitheroe saw them open up a five point gap at the top of the table.

And if they were to suddenly throw that advantage away at Great Harwood on Saturday, thus handing Barlick the title in the process, then the former Rishton man would never forgive himself.

"We'd be devastated if we lost it from here," said Eastham.

"To get so close and then not finish the job off would be a travesty in our minds.

"We've won our last six games on the bounce and, over the course of the season, we've beaten Cherry Tree and Barnoldswick twice.

"So we've beaten all the top sides and the team who remain our nearest challengers haven't lived with us on the pitch.

"Therefore, if they were to suddenly steal it from us now, we'd be absolutely gutted."

Read ensured they would go into the final round of games clutching all the aces after wrapping up a double win under intense pressure last weekend.

Craig Walton and Nick Marsh were the heroes in Saturday's nailbiting victory over reigning champions Cherry Tree.

Then on Sunday, after news of Barnoldswick's victory over Blackburn Northern filtered through, they held their nerve to wrap up a five-wicket triumph over Clitheroe.

"It was a cracking weekend but a nailbiting one as well," said Eastham. "Cherry Tree are always the bench mark so to go there needing a win was a tall order.

"But we did it, which was a big feather in our cap, because, without being disrespectful to either Clitheroe or Great Harwood, we knew our whole season hung on that result.

"Then we met Clitheroe on the Sunday and we treated them with exactly the same respect.

"Unfortunately, I dropped a catch in the last over for the 10th wicket which would have given us the extra two bonus points.

"So I've since had a bit of a ribbing off the lads for that but we were just relieved to get the result in the end, especially as some of the Barnoldswick lads had come down to watch us after winning their game."

Now just Great Harwood stand between Read and their first title since 1979.

But, although the whole club is brimming with confidence, Eastham is adamant they will not ease off until the job is finished.

"If we haven't got confidence in the dressing room now then we never will have," said the skipper.

"But, having said that, Great Harwood are a very competitive side on their day and we certainly won't be taking anything for granted.

"Gordon Simpson is one of the best bowlers in this league in my opinion. And Alan Armer got 140 against us earlier in the season so he can be dangerous, too.

"But as we've said all along, we'll treat each game as it comes and try and beat each team as we meet them. So we'll go there full of confidence."