BRINSCALL have made a big noise since arriving in the Ribblesdale League in 2006.

After making the switch from the now defunct Chorley and District League with Feniscowles, the School Lane side swept to the Division Two title.

And just under a year on, they sit on top of Division One by seven points from Burnley Belvedere with just seven games left.

But for skipper Liam Winstanley, it's just a relief to be playing competitive cricket.

He said: "Once it was clear that the Chorley and District League was going to fold, we applied to the Ribblesdale League and the Palace Shield.

"The Ribblesdale League was always the preferred option for us and it's proved to be a good move for us.

"Of course, we play to try and win games and trophies but what we wanted to do was play competitive cricket. Unfortunately, we didn't really do that in the couple of years previous.

"Last year, we probably played a lower standard of cricket than what we are used to but this year has been a lot more challenging.

"But we've made a big statement and I think we needed to do that."

Winstanley added that it wasn't only a challenge to play new teams but visiting new grounds and meeting new people has also been a refreshing change.

He added: "It's been great. We've played at some very nice grounds and come up against lots of different players.

"When you're in the same league for a number of years, you get to know people and know where to bowl at them and how to play them.

"In the last couple of years, we've come in with a clean slate and it's been a challenge for both sides trying to work each other out.

"I think we've done really well so far. I've been disappointed with our batting on occasions but I've been very pleased with our bowling and fielding. If we keep that level up we'll be there or thereabouts come the end of the season."

And for the future? The Brinscall skipper says he and his side would love to play senior league one day.

"A few of the boys have been to watch a couple of Senior League games and it would be nice to play against the best players," he said.

"It's very difficult to say what will happen. At the end of the day, we're a village club and we were cast into this situation, which was out of our own control when the Chorley League folded, and our plan for the short-term was to get the first and second teams playing competitive cricket.

"At the moment, we're in a period of consolidation in a new league."