PADIHAM pro Chris Holt says his men simply can’t afford to lose tomorrow’s derby collision with Read – just for the sake of his own quality of life.

The 24-year-old left-arm spinner is a former captain of his home village club and is close friends with Read skipper Kyle O’Connor and the Whalley Road side’s veteran all-rounder Jon Harvey.

And because of that connection, Holt says the derby clash is one that really matters.

“It’s my old club with loads of my mates,” said Holt.

“I see Kyle pretty much every day and Jon a few times a week – and if we lose the derby my life is barely worth living.

“If Read get the upper hand in the derbies it makes for a really long winter – so this is really a big game for me and for a few of our lads too.”

As well as personal pride – and more importantly – Holt is keen to see Padiham cause an upset against their near neighbours, who are riding high in second spot going into the double header weekend, in order to arrest a slump that has seen them win just once all season.

“It’s been a bad run,” added Holt. “We have not found any sort of consistency yet - and it’s no wonder because in the first six games we used 23 different players.

“But we are back to near full strength now and hopefully we can start to show our true colours.

“Obviously it would be good to start that on derby day – but I know we can turn that corner sooner rather than later.”

Read are also determined to win as they bid to stay hot on the heels with leaders Clitheroe – but they are without Harvey for tomorrow’s game with Richard Sharples coming in.

“Yes, they are a good side – but they really do miss Harvs when he doesn’t play,” added Holt.

Clitheroe face their own derby test against Ribblesdale Wanderers, while Brooksbottom and Edenfield clash in an eagerly anticipated match.

The Brox is still not fit for senior cricket, so the game has been switched from Summerseat to Edenfield’s Gincroft Lane.

Barnoldswick and Earby collide at Victory Park, Baxenden play host to Oswaldtwistle Immanuel, Cherry Tree are at Euxton, Salesbury go to Settle and Whalley travel to Great Harwood in the day’s other games.