Ribble Valley District Under 11s cricket team got their season off to a winning start at home to Fylde on a green damp pitch.

The home side took the bold move of batting first and initially it was difficult but Harry Lang from Clitheroe and Tobias Dean of Whalley got them off to a solid start seeing off the new ball. This enabled county duo Read’s Joe Noone and Charlie Dewhurst of Clitheroe to form a match-winning partnership.

Noone was run out for 45 and Dewhurst got to 50 and had to retire.

By now the youngsters were well on top and with some good hitting and running at the end from Oliver Whetton of Salesbury, Will Wrathall from Read and Clitheroe’s Sam Mulligan, the Valley side made a highly competitive 150 from their 35 overs.

In reply, Fylde never threatened, Dewhurst took a wicket in his first over and Wrathall removed the other opener.

Further tight spells from Elliot Watson of Ribblesdale Wanderers and Billy Jacks from Clitheroe put further pressure on the visitors.

This allowed Jonathan Richardson and James Scorah from Clitheroe to capitalize with 3-6 and 1-2 respectively.

The match was finished off with the Clitheroe spin twins Eli Smith and Harry Lang taking two wickets each and the locals ran out winners by a more than comfortable 66 runs.

The following day the youngsters travelled to Fleetwood to play Wyre and posted a competitive total of 123 all out and an excellent fielding display saw them ease home by 64 runs.

They will play Rossendale for a place in the knockout stages of the competition.