Andrew Caunce has brought his winning mentality to Baxenden – and he has got his sights set on a league and cup double this season.

Bash have got two wins so far in the Ribblesdale League campaign and begin the defence of the Ramsbottom Cup this weekend against Settle as they look to make it three cup wins in three years.

Captain Caunce won the treble in the Lancashire League with Ramsbottom last season and now wants to transfer the winning streak to Back Lane.

"The Ribblesdale League title is the only one I haven’t won in the three leagues I have played in. I won the Bolton Association with Walshaw and the Lancashire League so I want to add the Ribblesdale League title to them," said Caunce who is in his second spell at Bash but his first as captain.

"We have got off to a flyer with two wins and the lads are all happy.

"Winning is a habit and I always go into any game believing we are going to win.

"I kept in touch with Baxenden’s results last season and they went on a run of eight games without a win which cost them the title.¿I asked them why they thought that happened and they said fitness and concentration and so that’s what we have been working on.

"We have players here who are used to winning too. I was with Liam Riley and David Mills at Walshaw where we were a young side and won the title seven out of eight years. We have a never-say-die attitude and hopefully that has transferred to here."

It’s his first job as skipper and admits it’s nice when a decisions comes off.

"It was a bit of a gamble on Saturday against Barnoldswick as it was a tight game. I brought Liam Riley the off-spinner on at the end of the innings and it was a brave decision but it proved the right one. It’s nice when they come off.

"But it never enters my mind that we will lose in any game.

"We were 121-6 but Mark Rishton steadied the ship after we lost early wickets and then Dave Mills came in and got 42 and batted really well and we got the job done even though it was by one-wicket. It’s important to win these tight games."

Caunce admits he has had to make friends with pro Baber Naeem as he linked up with him for the first time.

"I had a few clashes and run-ins with him when he was playing for Edenfield and we were on opposing sides but now we are the best of friends!

"He is a great help as it’s my first job as captain and he is helping me out."

Baxenden recovered from a dreadful start to beat Barnoldswick in another exciting finish.

Bash were struggling on 38-5 after being put in to bat and did well to reach 138-9 as Barlick pro Jaffar Nazir, took 6-40.

However, the visitors also laboured and Baber Naeem's five-wicket haul ensured a home win.

Great Harwood got their first win of the season thanks to seven wickets from pro Syed Shahabuddin.

Clitheroe’s Josh Marquet took 5-37 to help dismiss Great Harwood for 136. However, Shahabuddin trumped those figures with 7-50 as Harwood won by 36 runs.

Oswaldtwistle's Chris Cook Martin compiled the day’s only century as they too got off the mark for the season.

His unbeaten 103 – in 96 balls with 10 fours and one six – gave Immanuel a three-wicket win at Settle for whom ex-Rishton man Tiarnan Hamill contributed 87.