SETTLE’S second team are celebrating after defeating Baxenden by 20 runs to clinch the Houldsworth Ribblesdale League Division two championship.

Losing two wickets in the opening over of the game certainly wasn’t in the script.

But the Marshfield men put the setbacks behind them with Josh Mullinder setting about the bowling in his trademark style, hitting 34 at a run a ball.

Damon Barrett calmly stroked his way to 15m before skipper Kieren Ashley dug in for a useful 21.

Jason Paul entertained with his reverse sweeps, but it was a priceless unbeaten 34 from 95 balls from under-15 Benjamin Hulse which saved the innings.

His career-best knock at senior level was a triumph of application and talent, helping Settle to 148-9. The visitors’ reply was aided by dropped catches and dogged batting, but the reliable Barrett (3-25) made vital breakthroughs.

Mullinder topped his batting performance with 4-28 from naggingly accurate left-arm spin and Paul (3-39) struck with help from a superb slip catch by James Holgate when the match seemed to be sliding away.

The 30-run victory sealed the top spot, a just reward for Ashley who laboured all summer calling on 27 players, many of them juniors.