HITTING balls on the golf course has been far more enjoyable for Meyrick Pringle this summer than trying to do the same on the cricket field.

"It's probably the worst season I've ever had with the bat," declared the South African who has appeared in three Tests for his country and in numerous one day internationals.

"At home last season I was scoring loads and loads of runs.

"My club side, Bellville, finished second in the Premier League.

"I just don't know what's gone wrong this summer."

And no matter how many birdies he picks up on the fairways of East Lancashire, it cannot make up for his dearth of runs on the county's wickets.

"It has definitely been disappointing for me," he added.

"But anyone can have a bad season."

Pringle's bad run has been mirrored throughout defending Lancashire League champions Rishton's performances this season and they are a side very much on the rack going into tomorrow's encounter against champions-elect Haslingden.

But, although he rules out a successful defence of their title, Pringle insists that the Blackburn Road side still have plenty to play for.

"We were the champions last year and we've still got that reputation," he said.

"We've still got our pride. We have to play to the best of our ability.

"The reason we are not up in the position Haslingden are now is that we haven't played to our potential.

"This happens to the best of teams. Just look at Australia, they're not playing great at the moment.

"Talking to the other South African professionals in the league, they all think we have a very strong batting side and we just haven't put it together.

"It just hasn't happened for us."

Haslingden's chances of maintaining their present momentum has not been helped by the departure due to injury of professional Brad McNamara.

Leicestershire's Gordon Parsons, who played for Church last weekend, fills in for McNamara. But Haslingden are also without their captain, Mark Griffin, who has a mild dose of glandular fever and has been advised by his doctor to take the weekend off.

"It's always difficult when a team loses their professional, particularly one as influential as McNamara was," said Pringle. "We haven't played Haslingden yet this season so I haven't seen them, apart from two of their batsman in a friendly game who both performed well.

"But we're looking to get back on track and will be going all guns out to win tomorrow.

We would like to finish off the season well, with a flourish.

"And we couldn't begin better than by beating Haslingden tomorrow."

Fixtures:Colne v Burnley, Enfield v Church, Lowerhouse v Nelson, Ramsbottom v East Lancs, Rawtenstall v Accrington, Rishton v Haslingden, Todmorden v Bacup.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.