LEAGUE champions Settle made amends for last week’s uncharacteristic performance by comfortably seeing off second-placed Padiham at Marshfield.

At the top of Settle’s order Archie Phillipson worked hard to reach 27, including a glorious on drive for four off Jack Edgar which was the shot of the match. However, he will want to forget the lofted stroke to deep cover where he holed out.

The middle order then struggled but pro Ashen Silva was on top form, making 63 from 57 deliveries, accompanying James Snowden (28) and Eddy Read, whose blistering 32no was inspired by hitting Monty Panesar into Marshfield Road last Friday against England Legends.

Facing a challenging total of 193-6, Padiham lost both openers to Read, making way for the spinners to reduce Padiham to 140 all out. Niles took 4-30 and Silva 4-39 while Benjamin Hulse had a field day with the gloves, making two stumpings and grabbing two catches.

All eyes then turned to Settle 2nd XI, fighting to retain the Division One title and up against second-placed Burnley Belvedere first team.

The visitors’ openers led a charmed life, with chances and near misses in their favour, but John Tarbox finally clean bowled the pair with 58 on the board.

The innings then faded away as Daniel Strickland claimed 3-21 from nine overs of medium pace, while Gus Ogden (3-29) tied the batsmen in knots with his left-arm twirlers. Tarbox came back for a second spell, his 4-34 leaving Belvedere stuck on 141 all out and seven overs unused.

Paul Clarke chose the ideal time to make his maiden fifty for Settle. Since transferring from Lindal Moor this season, he has unobtrusively cemented his place as opening bat and he calmly steered his team to a crucial win with an unbeaten 67 from 107 balls.

Joseph Pickles contributed 23 runs at the other end, followed by 25 not out from Paul Dockerty.

At 144-2 Settle claimed the full twelve points and denied Belvedere any bonus awards, meaning the Marshfield men now lie at the top of Division One, leading Ribblesdale Wanderers by a single point.

Another twelve points at Oswaldtwistle this Saturday in their final match should see the cup staying put, next to the ones already won by the first team.

In other news, There was a fantastic turnout at Marshfield last week, as the Settle softball boys team faced off with the girls team who are preparing fto enter the Upper Airedale Junior League for the first time next season.

Jonny Clarke won the toss and put the girls in to bat. The girls ran well between the wickets and accumulated steadily in the face of tight bowling from Callum McGoldrick and Noah Mitchell.Top scorers were Tess Giles, Bailey Graham and Libby Clarke. Most pleasingly the girls only lost 4 wickets on their way to 229.

The boys innings got off to the worst possible start as Mia McGoldrick bowled her brother Finlay with the first ball. The girls took charge for the first half of the innings with tight bowling from Scarlett Charnley, Sophie and Meghan Wright and a superb catch from Lexi Cokell.

The boys middle order knew they had to score quickly to be in with a chance of winning and Jonty Charnley ran quickly between the wickets and Harry Rutter and Dougie Giles hit boundaries. The game came right down to the final over but Jaxon Cross and Daniel Peacock saw the boys home with a score of 241.