Ribblesdale League: Harwood must right Read loss (4 Sep 1998)

4 September 1998

Harwood must right Read loss

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph

Great Harwood must bounce back from their shattering defeat at Read last weekend and win at Earby tomorrow if they are to keep alive their slim hopes of lifting the Ribblesdale League title, writes PETE OLIVER.

But even then they will need struggling Whalley to spring a surprise and beat leaders Padiham if they are to have any chance of upsetting the odds and winning the championship on the final day of the season.

Harwood could have gone into the final round of fixtures next weekend with only Ribblesdale Wanderers to worry about if they had taken maximum points from their last three games - including the potential title decider at the Arbories a week tomorrow - after Padiham lost to Barnoldswick last Saturday.

But their two-wicket defeat at Read means that Harwood are now the rank outsiders behind Padiham, Wanderers and Clitheroe.

"That match was pretty much make-or-break. We were pretty gutted and didn't bat well at all," admitted Harwood professional Charles Dagnall.

"It's annoying. Mathematically it's still possible and we will just keep our fingers crossed and see how it goes.

"Funny things do happen but the top sides are playing some weak ones."

Padiham could wrap it up if they gain maximum points, Clitheroe don't at home to Settle and Read wreck another title dream against Wanderers.

However, in the unlikely event of all three getting an attack of the jitters Harwood hope to sneak in the back door - if they win a tough game at Applegarth.

"We beat them earlier in the season but they are a good side and anything other than seven points and we are goosed," added Dagnall who will have to shoulder an extra burden tomorrow.

The all-rounder, who has been playing for Warwickshire Seconds this week, added: "We are without Gordon Simpson and Paul Houldsworth so it will be difficult without two of our main bowlers. Hopefully I can pull something out."

He almost did last week when a five-wicket haul led to a late scare for Read but the way the table looks, probably like Harwood's title challenge, it was a case of too little too late.

Tomorrow's fixtures (start 1.30): Cherry Tree v Barnoldswick, Clitheroe v Settle, Earby v Great Harwood, Edenfield v Blackburn Northern, Oswaldtwistle I v Baxenden, Padiham v Whalley, Ribblesdale W v Read.

Source :: Lancashire Evening Telegraph (https://www.reednews.co.uk/let/)