DANIEL Metcalf is hoping Oswaldtwistle Immanuel’s historic Ramsbottom Cup victory can inspire a strong finish to the league season as they bid for a top-four place in the final standings.

Metcalf hit 72 as his side defeated favourites Settle in Sunday’s final and the Ossie skipper is now keen for the cup form to translate into league results.

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This weekend represents the first match day since the league split into its Section A and Section B format meaning Oswaldtwistle will be battling against league rivals until the end of the season. And Metcalf wants to capitalise on the euphoria of their cup win.

He said: “We want to try to get four or five wins from our last eight games and try to get in the top four.

“That will get us into the LCB Knockout, which is a target for us now.

“I think to win the cup and get in the top four will be a successful season, we would have taken that before we started. Hopefully the cup win can inspire us a bit.

“It might help us or it might go against us, we will find out on Saturday.”

Ossie begin the weekend in fifth place, 22 points behind their opponents and 11 points clear of the bottom two.

And Metcalf sees no reason why they cannot look up after their cup joy.

He added: “The league has split now, so we know we will have a tough game every weekend.

“We are playing Read on Saturday and we want to win that one and close the gap on them.

“The other sides are bunched together and it will be great for us if we could get into the top four.”

The Ossie skipper admitted that the weekend Ramsbottom Cup win was still sinking in.

“It was a great day for everyone at the club.

“There must have been 200 Ossie fans there and they all invaded the pitch at the end and I think there were a few tears.

“It is brilliant for everyone as it is the first time we have won it.

“There was certainly a lot of celebrating on Saturday night.”

And Metcalf admitted he thought his side might have left themselves too much to do when they closed the innings on 168.

“I felt we were 20 short,” said Metcalf.

“But in the end we bowled really well.

“We got a wicket in the first over and after that Andreas Sudnik bowled them out.

“It was a fantastic performance.”

Metcalf hit 72 while Sudnik finished with figures of 6-12 in a phenomenal display of bowling as Settle, who are still in the league title race, were dismissed for just 80.