Ribblesdale League: Speedster John has 14-wicket weekend (8 July 1997)

8 July 1997

Ribblesdale League: Speedster John has 14-wicket weekend

Lancashire Evening Telegraph

PACE ace John Hughes hit a rich seam of wicket-taking form as Cherry Tree marched on at the top of the Vaux Ribblesdale League.

He captured 9-35 as Whalley were skittled for 54 - the first time a Cherry Tree player had achieved the feat.

Whalley's innings crumbled so quickly there hadn't been time to prepare the traditional between-innings meal!

And Hughes captured five wickets, working in tandem with professional Naeem Ashraf, who also had five victims in a comfortable victory over Great Harwood on Saturday as Cherry Tree stretched their lead to five points.

Settle's David Morrell also hit nine-wicket form, taking 9-48 as the Dalesmen beat Oswaldtwistle Immanuel by four wickets. Tim Green (43) and Flemming (59) followed up with solid batting performances.

On Saturday Matt Lawrence turned on a stunning individual performance for Oswaldtwistle with a half century and four wickets in their 55-run win over Edenfield.

Barnoldswick slumped to 81 all out as Paul Ridgway took 5-23 for Padiham. The Victory Park batsmen slumped after David Scothern had taken 6-30.

Neil Winkley and Neil Bolton smashed 40 off the last four overs to snatch victory for Clitheroe against Baxenden who had Pete Usher (78) to thank for the bulk of their runs.

Earby professional Jonathan Harvey rattled up 76 and skipper Stephen Hipgrave took 5-18 as Whalley desperately hung on with nine wickets down. Settle professional Michael Curran took 5-58, but it was Ribblesdale pro Gurinder Singh who took the honours with 5-63, despite Mark Verden's fighting half century.

Jonathan Fielding scored 80 as Clitheroe kept up the pressure on Cherry Tree with a comfortable victory over Great Harwood despite an impressive innings from Chris Killen.

Barnoldswick were left clinging on a 122-9 to deny Edenfield maximum points after James Steadman had taken 4-74 for the Victory Park club.

Mark Rishton's 76 lifted Baxenden to victory against Read with professional Shaid Nawaz scoring 51.

Harvey produced the goods with the ball for, taking 6-45 as Earby beat Blackburn Northern by four wickets.

Padiham sub-professional, Paul Ridgway, continued to earn his keep with 48 while Sean Rashid took 5-47 to dismiss Ribblesdale.

Results - Saturday: Barnoldswick 81 (2 pts), Padiham 127 (7); Baxenden 159-8, Clitheroe 160-7 (5); Read 199-9 (5), Blackburn Northern 168-9; Earby 189-7 (5), Whalley 93-9; Ribblesdale Wanderers 161-8 (7), Settle 151; Gt Harwood 126, Cherry Tree 128-4 (7); Oswaldtwistle Imm 150-8 (7), Edenfield 95.

Sunday: Barnoldswick 122-9, Edenfield 173-6 (5); Baxenden 170-5 (5), Read 164-9; Blackburn Northern 118, Earby 121-6; Cherry Tree 57-1 (7), Whalley 54; Great Harwood 164, Clitheroe 191-6 (7); Settle 157-6 (7), Oswaldtwistle Imm 155; Padiham 189-6 (7), Ribblesdale Wanderers 174.

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