Race for Ribblesdale League second place heats up (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Race for Ribblesdale League second place heats up

1:58pm Friday 11th September 2009 in

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THE battle for second place in the Ribblesdale League takes centre stage tomorrow as the curtain comes down on the 2009 season.

Second place is the only prize left on offer after Baxenden wrapped up the title and Great Harwood are in pole position for that as they hold an eight-point lead over Read.

And they finish their campaign with a Cliffe meeting with rock-bottom Blackburn Northern, while Jon Harvey takes his Read side into the Ribble Valley for their finale at Ribblesdale Wanderers needing a win while hoping Russ Whalley’s Harwood slip up.

Champions Baxenden look to finish on a high when they make the long trip to Settle.

Bash need a maximum point win to hit the 250-point mark for the campaign and skipper Ian Austin said: “It would be a nice target to make and would be a great reward for a good season.”

Professional Babar Naeem has 1,213 league runs and could well top his total of last season when he hit 1,226 while professional at Edenfield.

The season’s leading amateur batsman is Barnoldwick’s Matthew Nutter, who has 719 runs so far, and ahead of exciting times next season at Victory Park, Nutter aims to bat Barlick to an end of year win at Edenfield tomorrow.

Earby are guaranteed fifth spot and a place in the Lancashire Cup thanks to Baxenden’s league and cup double and they travel to Oswaldtwistle, while Clitheroe go to Padiham at the end of a disappointing campaign.

Cherry Tree are also on the road as Jon Baldwin takes his men to Whalley.

Earby v Oswaldtwistle Immanuel, Edenfield v Barnoldswick, Great Harwood v Blackburn N, Padiham v Clitheroe, Ribblesdale W v Read, Settle v Baxenden, Whalley v Cherry Tree