RIBBLESDALE Wanderers will have to do something they have failed to do all season if they are to reach the Ramsbottom Cup final -- and win at home.

The Church Meadow side face Great Harwood in the semi-final tomorrow looking to get something out of a season which hasn't lived up to their hopes.

Last season, David Howard's side clinched the Jennings Ribblesdale League crown and more of the same was expected from them this time out.

Instead they are sitting third-from-bottom of the table, title hopes gone, looking to break their home duck so they have a chance of some silverware.

They've played seven home matches, lost four and three have been abandoned.

"I don't think it is an advantage with us playing at home as we haven't won there yet!" said legspinner Graham Monk, who captained the side when they last won the Ramsbottom Cup in 1999 against Cherry Tree.

He has good -- and bad -- memories of that day.

"I got man of the match in that game for taking five wickets and got a crate of beers for my prize.

"But, after doing interviews, by the time I got back to the pavilion, my team-mates had drunk the lot!"

He is hoping for a repeat show tomorrow -- although he'll keep any beers hidden -- so Ribblesdale can continue their recent string of success and take something from this season.

"It is actually more enjoyable winning the cup than the league because it is all on one day but it is more meaningful to win the league. "There should be a good crowd there watching us. I just hope it's not a repeat of last time we played Great Harwood."

This was in a league encounter earlier this season when Ribblesdale were shot out for 72 -- and Great Harwood recorded a seven wicket win. "We had a particularly poor day that day. We were back in the bar by 6.30pm so we only want to be in that situation if it means we have done the same to them."

Monk is at a loss to explain what has gone wrong this season for the defending champions.

"I just don't know. It is harder to defend a championship but it's just a fact of life that we won't reclaim it this season.

"David Howard has got a few runs, I've taken a few wickets but other people haven't always been chipping in.

"And I suppose the pro Shahid Nawaz has not been performing like he has in other seasons, although he has got a few tons.

"We've been going down without a fight although saying that we have been in a good position on a couple of occasions and looked like we could win but then the games were rained off.

"So it hasn't been all bad. "We can be brilliant one week and awful the next. It's just we have been awful almost every week this season!

"It is not a surprise to me that we are not winning the league, the surprise is that we aren't up there."

But it is not all bleak. Wanderers do have a good youth set up and several of the players would have been making the step up into senior level -- if they weren't holidaying!

"A group of the youngsters have gone en bloc to Majorca. They shouldn't be allowed to go on holiday in the summer!" said the skipper.

"We have got a couple that have come into the side in the last few weeks and we will get our revenge on the rest of them!

"But we have got a good youth set up and, although this is a bad year, the future is very bright and the club is bouyant."

In the other semi-final Earby are at home to Barnoldswick.

"That is a local derby but if I had to tip a team to go through it would be Earby," said Monk. "They are a good side. They have a good balance, a strong batting side and five very good bowlers.

"I guess they will be favourites but the cup's all about just that one particular day."