EARBY claimed the Vaux Ribblesdale League crown in a thrilling three-way race for the championship.

While Earby and Great Harwood were locked in a head to head contest at the Applegarth, Read faced Settle in a top v bottom clash.

But it was Earby who held on to their slender lead at the top of the table despite losing skipper Ian Clarkson and strike bowler Glyn Sedman who were on holiday.

Harwood recovered from a poor start to set a target of 190 for eight with professional Chris Killen undefeated on 58. Earby opener Nigel Pickles equalled the club batting record of 1035 runs for the season but was caught on 34 going for the runs which would take him past John Rainger's 1991 mark.

A mini collapse put Great Harwood back in the hunt but man of the match Paul Tilbury (69) and professional Jonathan Harver (51 not out) saw them to the title.

Read professional Shahid Nawaz (67 not out) took his total to 1157 runs but despite beating Settle they could not knock Earby off the top point. Paul Beech scored 99 for the Dales side. Barnoldswick held on to fourth place and a place in next year's Lancashire Knockout Competition despite being beaten by Edenfield where Bob Riley took four for 17.

Jonathan Fielding took three wickets for Clitheroe as they beat Oswaldtwistle Immanuel, taking him to 100 wickets for the season while the home side's professional Peter Gardiner reached 1000 runs.

Blackburn Northern professional Ian Billcliff also reached the magic 1000 run mark as he scored 77 against Ribblesdale Wanderers, but it was Ian Britcliffe (fiev for 31) who took the honours. Martin Davies scored 54 for Ribblesdale.

Whalley captured seven points against Baxenden to lift themselves off bottom place for the first time this year while it was Settle who slipped to the bottom of the table.

Cherry Tree had the edge over Padiham with Michael Veevers and Scott Pearce both scoring 79.

Nasser Mahmood scored 63 for Padiham while Chris Ramsker took five wickets as Cherry Tree claimed the points.

Results: Cherry Tree 226-6 (7pts), Padiham 193; Earby 192-5 (5), Great Harwood 190-8; Edenfield 164-9 (5), Barnoldswick 136-9; Oswaldtwistle 122-8, Clitheroe 125-4 (5); Read 164-2 (5), Settle 163-5; Blackburn Northern 121 all out, Ribblesdale Wanderers 122-4 (7); Whalley 122 (7), Baxenden 107 (2).

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