THE eagerly awaited clash between the top two sides suffered the same washed-out fate as the rest of the Senior League programme on Saturday.

It means that Settle and Clitheroe will have to wait till the end of August for the return match at Marshfield which could determine the title.

There was better news on Sunday as Settle demolished East Lancs Paper Mill in the second round of the Lancashire Cup.

With an eye to the weather, skipper Tom Davidson looked for a quick win by putting the hosts in to bat.

The tactic paid off as the Millers were skittled out for 88 runs inside 23 overs. Davidson took 4-24, while the Fazal brothers, Hassan and Asif, took two wickets each.

The bowlers were backed up by excellent catching and fielding which has now become routine for this side.

It took less than nine overs for Settle to wrap up the match at 92-3. Tom Davidson hit 42 in 24 balls, his three sixes matched by his brother William, whose 26 unbeaten runs came from just seven deliveries.

Settle will be on the road again for the third round on July 3 when they meet struggling Pennine League side Monton and Weaste CC in Eccles, Greater Manchester.

Settle’s Marshfield ground was the only venue in the entire Ribblesdale League to produce a result on Saturday, albeit in a game that was played in light drizzle most of the time.

The ground conditions produced a low-scoring game from which Settle seconds managed to salvage seven points despite losing to Oswaldtwistle Immanuel.

The visitors elected to bat, scoring 103 all out against a Settle side containing seven junior players. Joseph Handy and Josh Mullinder took three wickets apiece, while Jordan McKenna took 2-7 from five overs. Ben Mitchell and Kieren Ashley took two catches each in a solid fielding performance.

Settle’s reply contained only two scores in double figures. Rob Johnson held out for 52 balls for 14 runs, and James Pickard hit 11, the highest contribution coming from 25 extras. Despite the struggle, the hosts got within nine runs of a win, closing at 95 all out, their points tally helping them inch up the Division Two table.