GREAT Harwood captain Allan Armer wants to forget a "terrible weekend" and make sure it is smiles all round on Sunday as he bids to help his side lift the Ramsbottom Cup.
Harwood lost three successive games - including a disappointing defeat to Sunday's opponents Clitheroe in the 20/20 final on Friday night.
Armer's side then slipped to league losses to Earby on Saturday and local rivals Baxenden on Sunday and Armer admitted it was hard to take.
"It was terrible," he said. "I don't want to lose another game after losing three in a row again.
"It was so disappointing on Friday as their wicket keeper took a brilliant catch to get Paul Houldsworth out in the first ball of the final over when we needed nine runs to win.
"With me and Paul in there, we felt we could have won but it was hard for the two batsmen coming in in fading light and be expected to win the game.
"But Sunday's cup final will be different. The bowlers get 10 overs instead of the four they got on Friday. We have beat them in the league and they beat us in the cup so it is 1-1 and all to play for."
Overcoming Clitheroe on Sunday at Baxenden CC will stop the Chatburn Road side grabbing what looks like a treble with Clitheroe 15 points clear at the top of the table.
"We have a friendly rivalry with Clitheroe," continued the Harwood captain, whose side last won the Ramsbottom Cup in 2001.
"We have been in competition with them for the league title a couple of times and we always have a drink after the game. But during it, we will be serious.
"Russell Whalley is coming into some form with the bat although Gyan (Pandey) is having a bad time of it at the moment. He desperately wants to win the cup as, whenever we lose, he always blames himself but there are 11 of us out there.
"We haven't been strong on our bowling this season and we do need to improve that. We have been practising this week and will continue against Barnoldswick tomorrow and hopefully we will get it right on Sunday.
"It would be excellent to lift a trophy in my first half season as captain - we just hope we can."
Harwood did look on course to collect the 20/20 trophy but Clitheroe became the first Ribblesdale League team to beat Harwood in three years in front of a large crowd at Cliffe Park. Harwood won the toss for the final, sponsored by '20 Sports.'
The Harwood bowlers kept it tight with Clitheroe making 100-5 with four overs left.
But then professional Shahid Nawaz and Farouk Butt added a quick-fire 56 to take Clitheroe to 156. Nawaz finished on an unbeaten 72 and Butt on 30 not out.
Harwood pro Gyan Pandy was first to go in reply for just eight but Matt Howarth (24) and Russell Whalley (26) did well until both went in quick succession.
Houldsworth and Armer then put together a potential match winning stand and were assisted by five dropped catches in the fading light.
The pair went into the last over requiring nine for victory - and it looked on the cards.
But Clitheroe turned to young Danny Glover for the final over and with his first ball he had Houldsworth caught behind for 13.
He then followed this with two balls that the new batsman was unable to lay bat on - keeping Armer at the non-strikers end. In his final three deliveries, Glover conceded just two runs as Clitheroe won by six runs.
Then Harwood's weekend to forget continued as they lost to Earby on Saturday and Baxenden on Sunday. Russell Whalley top scored with 48 in their 182-8 against Earby but the bowlers could not shift Ali Azmat who made an unbeaten 117 in the six wicket win.
On Sunday, Baxenden celebrated a nine wicket win thanks to a stunning batting and bowling performance. Opener Dave Parkinson made an unbeaten 104 in their 189-1 while pro Jonathan Fielding took 6-63 to make it a miserable three days for Harwood.
"Baxenden are a good side," admitted the Harwood captain. "Dave Parkinson did well against us although I did give him a chance by dropping him. I think we can still finish around fourth if we win every game so that is the aim between now and the end of the season."
The day before, Mark Rishton's side beat Read on a faster scoring rate.
Read had made 194 with Parkinson taking 5-50. He didn't have much luck with the bat this time - out for 11 - but Fielding made 45, Rishton 38 and Toby Bulcock an unbeaten 26 to take Baxenden to 191-7 - and a run-rate win.
Frustratingly for third placed Bash, Clitheroe celebrated a double win weekend although second placed Padiham did slip up and they will be bidding to take over second spot tomorrow at Cherry Tree
OSWALDTWISTLE IMMANUEL had a poor weekend run-wise. The would have fancied their chances when Settle made just 136 with pro Ahmer Saeed taking 5-36 and captain Gerard Metcalf 4-69. But their top score was in extras - 23- as they fell 51 runs short.
It was deja vu on Sunday as they made just 89 against Whalley with Danny Greenwood top scoring with 27. Whalley lost three wickets before they celebrated a comfortable win.
Immanuel face league leaders Clitheroe tomorrow, hoping to upset them before the cup final.
