THE Ribblesdale League team can put down another marker as to the strength in depth of the competition by reaching a second successive Readers Inter-League Knockout final next month, according to one of the three men charged with picking the squad.

Ian Threlfall, who manages the team along with Steve Hipgrave and John Bushell, also says the selected players should feel proud to be part of the representative side and insists a win over the Bolton League in the semi-final will only enhance their – and the league’s – reputation.

But the league side must reverse the result of last year’s final when they meet the Bolton League at Salesbury on July 14.

“I think the Inter-League is a great competition,” said Threlfall. “If you win it people around cricket in the North West notice and get to know that the Ribblesdale League is a good league.

“And if you make it through to two successive finals it means that the first was not a flash in the pan and shows the league has strength in depth.”

The side will again be captained by Ribblesdale Wanderers’ veteran seamer Ian Britcliffe and boasts a mix of experience and youth.

“We have Ian as skipper and he is the leading wicket-taker in the league with 63 so far. He is bowling so well and there is also good experience with Stuart Maher and Simon Gorton.

“Three of the lads could still qualify to play for our U21 side so that shows there is up and coming talent and we can also call on Australian Ben Dougall from Ribb.

“He batted really well in the last round when he made a ton and is a good player.

“But they are all good players and by being selected it shows they are the top players in the league and that is something they should be proud of, I know that I would have been.”

They lost in the showpiece last term and now the squad is intent on revenge.

“I think they are going for a younger team this time around,” said Threlfall. “But we will have to see if they stick with that when it comes round to the game.”

The team: Ian Britcliffe (Ribblesdale Wanderers), Liam Bedford (Barnoldswick), Ben Dougall (Ribblesdale Wanderers), Joey Marshall (Read), Brannon Varley (Ribblesdale Wanderers), Elliott Artingstoll (Read), Conor Lowes (Read), Kurt Robinson (Padiham), Ben Dowling (Great Harwood), Simon Gorton (Whalley), Stuart Maher (Great Harwood), Scorer: Scott Wharton