Ribblesdale League: We won't lie down, Harvey tells brother (21 Aug 1998)

21 August 1998

We won't lie down, Harvey tells brother

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph

Three weeks ago Earby's visit to Padiham tomorrow looked like a potential title decider in the Ribblesdale League.

At the start of the month Padiham were top of the table and Earby were second, just seven points behind.

But three successive defeats have knocked Earby out of contention and they go to the Arbories facing a tough fight to secure a top-four place.

That at least gives them an added incentive to put one over the title favourites with Jonathan Harvey, who takes on brother Mark for the last time this summer, insisting: "Obviously there's the family bit but we won't be lying down.

"We have blown it by losing the last three games but we have got to go for a Lancashire Cup place because everybody wants to play in that.

"We don't want to finish half-way."

With the top five still in the title race it will be hard for Earby to dislodge one and claim a spot in next season's Lancashire Cup.

But the Applegarth club at least have the advantage of having their destiny in their own hands with games to come against Great Harwood and Cherry Tree which will also give them a say in the title race. "We have got them all to play and I said before the start of the run-in that we will determine who wins it if we don't ourselves," added Harvey, who passed 800 runs for the season with a half-century against Ribblesdale Wanderers last Sunday.

With Padiham still to play Great Harwood as well there could yet be a sting in the tail although Harvey makes his brother's side marginal favourites as they have the points in the bag and a seven-point cushion.

However, the other title challengers are all at home tomorrow with winnable games which leaves them poised to turn up the heat on the leaders if Earby can stop their losing run.

Tomorrow's fixtures: Barnoldswick v Baxenden, Cherry Tree v Edenfield, Clitheroe v Oswaldtwistle Immanuel, Great Harwood v Settle, Padiham v Earby, Read v Blackburn Northern, Ribblesdale Wanderers v Whalley.

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