OSWALDTWISTLE Immanuel chalked up their first Ribblesdale League win of the season - and hope it is the start of many.

Immanuel overcame strugglig Read on Saturday with skipper Gerard Metcalf the hero.

He took three wickets to limit Read to 170-4 and then top scored with an unbeaten 58 as he steered his side to that first victory. Pro Ahmer Saeed made 44.

"It was a relief," admitted Metcalf.

"It is the first time this season we have played a team near us in the table as we do seem to have played a lot of the top teams so far.

"But I am hoping, once we start to play more of those around us, that we can get a few more wins and we start to get some more points and the table will start to even itself out.

"At the moment, I am sure some of those up at the top will drop down while some of those mid-table will move up. There is a long way to go but it was nice to get a win."

But they couldn't make it a double win on Sunday against title chasing Great Harwood.

Harwood professional Gyan Pandey (43) and skipper Russell Whalley (54) struck up a strong partnership but Immanuel would have felt 173 was catchable after they had done it the day before.

However, the damp conditions made it tough and they couldn't get going with the bat and finished 102 runs short.

"The wicket was deteriorating with the rain and it was difficult," said the captain.

"It was the first time we have been bowled out this season as our batting has been quite good.

"We were disappointed though that we didn't get them all out as they had one wicket left for the last couple of overs and we had a go but couldn't dislodge them."

The captain says, though, that the bowling has got better from his side.

"Steve Juliff bowled well at the weekend and the pro, while he doesn't get a glut of wickets, he is tight. He is consistent with the bat and ball.

"I had been bowling poorly but it got better last weekend."

And Metcalf will be hoping they continue to improve but they face another top side tomorrow (Sat) - they travel to Cherry Tree in the league after the two clash in the 20/20 competition tonight.

It was one win, one loss all round for the Hyndburn teams last weekend.

Harwood's victory over Immanuel on Sunday moved them up to fourth place in the league but they were ruing the one that got away on Saturday.

Blackburn Northern hadn't won in the league but, despite an unbeaten 47 from Pandey, Harwood struggled with the bat making 155-3.

Most of Northern's batsmen got into double figures to hinder Harwood's title hopes.

Baxenden, meanwhile, were undone by Earby pro Ali Azmat who made 116 of their 227-7. It was always a giant ask and Bash fell 58 runs short of the target.

Top scorer was wicket keeper Andrew Caunce with 39.

But they bounced back against Edenfield on Sunday with a three wicket victory to keep in with the chasing pack.

  • HARWOOD beat Baxenden by two wickets in the group stages of the 20/20 competition on Tuesday night. Mark Rishton's side made 162 while Harwood made 163-8 with two balls to spare.