CHERRY Tree were winners and losers amongst the inticracies of the Jennings Ribblesdale League rules -- but still finished the weekend at the top of the table as they chase the title they last won three years ago.

The 1997 champions had Edenfield nine wickets down on Saturday but were denied the chance of maximum points after losing time to the weather in the last 25 overs.

But on Saturday, Cherry Tree picked up their first seven-pointer as they were allowed to bowl one crucial last over against Blackburn Northern.

Skipper Dave Hayes explained: "Because they were slow they only bowled 43 overs at us but you can play until eight o'clock or up to 45 overs.

"One of the umpires wasn't aware of that but the other said it was two minutes to eight so Nigel Robbins bowled another over and got the last wicket with his second ball.

"They were a bit upset but we had a similar thing on Saturday.

"I thought we could bowl another three overs but they said we couldn't and we came off before eight o'clock because it had rained in the last 25 overs.

"It's a bit ambiguous." Regardless of the rulebook minutiae, the cold facts show that Cherry Tree's win-double means they are a point clear of Ribblesdale Wanderers and defending champions Padiham at the top of the table.

"It's always the best place to be, although it would be nicer to be there at the end of the season," said Hayes.

So can they do it and end Padiham's two-year rein as champions ?

"I think we can, although I'd say Padiham are strong favourites. They have a strong team, with some good youngsters and their professional is supposed to be an outstanding batsman and bowler who has probably added to their strength.

"We were close last year when we finished third. We were four points behind at the end and we probably won the title for Padiham when we beat Ribblesdale Wanderers and Great Harwood on the last weekend," Hayes added.

Padiham suffered their first defeat of the season on Sunday against a dangerous Read side who visit Cherry Tree on Sunday.

And that result allowed Hayes' men to go top thanks to their first bonus points of the summer.

"We've had a couple of nine downs but it's the first one we've had this year.

"When we won it the first year Naeem was here we got a lot of bonus points , although we will possibly find it a bit harder this year to bowl sides out after John Hughes left.

"When we're bowling at the end we might miss his firepower," admitted the skipper, who isn't looking to exploit a pitch which at times is still proving difficult to bat on.

"It's just a struggle when it rains. But there are a lot of people are working hard on it and hopefully we'll get it right," he said.