THE Ribblesdale League heroes marched into the final of the JW Lees inter-league cup on Sunday – but how they were made to work for their spot in the showpiece.

The locals edged a thriller against the North Lancs and Cumbria League by just one run at Baxenden’s Back Lane.

And now they can look forward to home advantage next month when they face the Bolton League in the final at Great Harwood.

Read’s Andrew Rushton was the star of the show as he claimed the man of the match award thanks to a top score of 38 as the league were bowled out for 138 and then he claimed three wickets to win it in a tense finale.

The North Lancs and Cumbria League needed just 15 runs with six wickets in hand and 12 overs to spare.

But in the most dramatic of endings, the visitors crumbled in the face of miserly bowling from Warren Eastham, Gary Sudworth, Rushton and Richard Craddock, who wrapped up the match with the final wicket with the first ball of the 43rd over to spark major celebrations.

Earlier, the locals had posted their 138 without any of the top order really firing.

Peter Dibb and Abdul Saddique both got starts, as did skipper Mark Rishton and Russ Whalley.

But after 18 overs, the Ribb League had only managed 47-2 and their innings was drifting.

But Rushton and club-mate Eastham (31) shared a 51-run stand to help them towards their eventual total, which gave the bowlers something to work with.

But as the North Lancs and Cumbria men raced to 123-4 with plenty of overs to spare, it seemed as though it was the end of the dream for the locals.

However, the stunning turnround booked a place in the final on August 9.

Joint team boss Neil Bolton is delighted – and wants to see the league boys go for a spot of revenge on the Bolton League.

“We owe them one for last time we played them,” he said. “They beat us easily that time but we have had some good battles over the years with them and the final will be no different.

“Great Harwood is a cracking venue for the final and there will be a good crowd cheering us one.”

But Bolton admitted there will be some tough decisions to be made by him and fellow team boss Stephen Hipgrave.

“Herbie and myself will have to sit down and have a good think,” he said.

“Some lads have performed well in both games so far and we will have to make a few big decisions about selection.

“But it is fantasic to be in the final – and now we want to win it.”

Veka Ribblesdale League v North Lancs And Cumbria JW Lees Inter-League Cup semi-final
at Back Lane, Baxenden
Umpires: G Twell, A Hay

The Veka Ribblesdale League
P Dibb ct Clark b Lawson 13
A Saddique ct Clark b Burns 11
M Rishton ct Gorley b Burns 15
R Whalley ct Smith b Burns 13
L McIntosh ct Gorley b Burns 2
R Craddock ct Smith b Atkinson 0
A Rushton ct Gorley b b Clark 38
G Sudworth ct Burns b Atkinson 7
W Eastham ct Moffatt b Gorley 31
J Marquet ct Gorley b Clark 1
M Garner not out 0
Extras 7
Total (all out) 138

P Lawson 9 1 34 1, M Gorley 8 3 20 1, N Burns 9 4 21 4, J Atkinson 9 1 22 2, M Daly 2 0 24 0, D Clark 51 1 12 2.

North Lancs and Cumbria League
G Capstick b Marquet 0
N Burns ct Saddique b Marquet 41
D Clark ct Dibb b McIntosh 19
M Daly lbw b Marquet 0
T Smith ct Whalley b Eastham 36
K Moffatt run out 21
M Gadsden ct Dibb b Rushton 1
M Gorley ct Garner b Rushton 0
G Smith not out 0
P Lawson ct Dibb b Rushton 4
J Atkinson b Craddock 0
Extras 15
Total (all out) 137
J Marquet 9 2 29 3, A Rushton 7 2 22 3, I McIntosh 5 2 20 1, G Sudworth 7 1 24 0, W Eastham 9 1 18 1, R Craddock 51 0 15 1.
Ribblesdale League won by 1 run