AMATEUR ace Matt Wilson has revived his cricket career and signed on for Houldsworth Solicitors Ribblesdale League outfit Earby.

The former Colne skipper grew disillusioned with the game last year and seemed set to quit until he moved to Lancashire League champions Lowerhouse over the winter.

However, work circumstances dictated that he couldn’t play a game for the House and now he has moved to The Applegarth, which is close to where he lives.

Wilson, who led Colne to their memorable Worsley Cup triumph at Ramsbottom in 2010, has almost 4,000 Lancashire League runs under his belt and the 33-year-old’s experience is a major boost to Peter Baistow’s men, who finished bottom of the league last year and have had a mixed start to the 2013 campaign.

They can forget about league matters tomorrow as they embark on their Watson Ramsbottom Solicitors Ramsbottom Cup campaign with an Applegarth clash with Clitheroe.

There is added spice to the tie as the Chatburn Road outfit include Wilson’s former Colne team-mate Stuart Lemon and ex-Nelson skipper Tom Lord in their ranks meaning the new boy can renew rivalries from the off.

Stuart Maher and Patrick Swanney have extra reason to hope for a run in the competition as they are both solicitors for the new sponsors, who have also signed a deal for the Lawrenson Cup and the Ribblesdale League Twenty20.

Watson Ramsbottom’s association with the league dates back decades and tomorrow’s cup ties are the first round on the road to a trophy that bears the name of the company’s former partner J H Ramsbottom. He was also a former president of the league and donated the trophy.

Maher and Swanney take their place in the Great Harwood side who welcome Whalley to the Cliffe in the first round.

Cherry Tree are another team eager to impress in this year’s competition.

The final in August will be staged at their Preston Old Road ground and Mark Hadfield would love nothing more than to lead his team out in that showpiece.

The final is, of course, a long way away and before anyone at Cherry can start dreaming of silverware they face a stern examination when Padiham head to Blackburn.

The visitors also fancy their cup chances this term and are boosted for the weekend by the sooner than expexcted return to action of skipper Callum Clarke from a hand injury.

Holders Baxenden begin their defence with revenge on their minds as they make a swift return to Settle, where they lost heavily last Sunday.

Bash went with a weakened side a week ago – but are at full strength tomorrow.

Read welcome Euxton to Whalley Road, Salesbury host Oswaldtwistle Immanuel and last year’s beaten finalists Barnoldswick battle Ribblesdale Wanderers at Victory Park.

The other tie sees a derby clash between new boys Brooksbottom and Edenfield at The Brox as the ground stages its first Ramsbottom Cup tie a day after hosting a first game in the Ribblesdale League after improvement works overran because of the weather.