GREAT HARWOOD professional Jermaine Lawson raised a wry smile when asked what the weather was like back in his homeland.

"It is sunny. It is always sunny in Jamaica," laughed the Cliffe Park paid man.

And the speed king must feel it always rains in England as it hasn't stopped since he landed at Manchester airport a couple of weeks ago, ready for his first stint of league cricket in England.

"They said that in early June it would be sunny - but it has just rained ever since I arrived here!" said the 25-year-old, who has 13 Tests and 13 One Day Internationals under his belt for the West Indies.

But, the weather aside, Lawson says he is settling into the Ribblesdale League life.

He was a late call-up to the club after the delayed Sohail Tanvir decided he couldn't make it and Lawson stepped in.

He had to wait for a visa but eventually landed two weeks ago and, in his two games so far, he has helped Harwood to win them both.

And he knows his history - Harwood haven't won the Ribblesdale League title since 1900 and it has become a huge burden they are desperate to get rid of.

"I had heard that. Hopefully I will give them the support to change that," said Lawson with Harwood well placed for another title challenge this season where they hope, this time, they won't fall short.

Lawson has taken five wickets but been unable to thrill the crowds yet with his full bowling speed of up to 97 miles per hour.

"I have only played two league games and it has been very wet. I haven't been able to have a solid run up to the wicket and it has been difficult," he said.

"I just haven't been able to get going - and I just want the chance to play.

"Hopefully the weather will get better and they will see the best of me.

"And I will have to try and adapt to the circumstances quickly.

"It is very different to being at home but the guys are okay and they are looking after me - they have taken me to a few pubs in Great Harwood."

Lawson missed out on an international call-up this time but has been watching his fellow countrymen play - and mostly suffer - against England in the recent Test series, one-day internationals and 20/20 games.

"I have watched most of them on television and it is difficult for the players.

"For a lot of them, it is their first time in England and they are getting the experience and hopefully will come back stronger."

There was only one match finished due to the weather at the weekend and OSWALDTWISTLE IMMANUEL suffered agony in their continued Ramsbottom Cup clash with Cherry Tree.

Cherry Tree had set Gerard Metcalf's side 225-4 last week and the game continued on Sunday. And Metcalf put in a captain's innings with an unbeaten 64.

But it wasn't enough as Immanuel fell an agonising eight runs short of the target in the quarter-final stage of the competition.

The cup games between Barnoldswick and Baxenden and Blackburn Northern v Great Harwood will be played on July 15 - the original semi-final date. The semi-finals will then be played the week after.

IN THE 20/20 competition, Great Harwood escaped with a £25 fine after fielding an ineligible player in their clash with Read. They played new signing Patrick Swanney before they were officially allowed to but the league's management committee decided a fine was enough for the Group Two leaders. Meanwhile, second placed Oswaldtwistle's Group Two game with Baxenden, at home, will be played this Tuesday (10 July).