SETTLE’S aim of retaining the Ribblesdale Senior League championship was held up on Saturday as they lost at new leaders Ribblesdale Wanderers.

The hosts racked up 173-8, though seamers Harry Snowden (3-23) and Eddy Read (3-36) made the batsmen work hard.

The prolific John Davidson (25) kept up his fine form in Settle’s reply, but his partners fell away after making good starts.

Wickets kept tumbling in the deteriorating light until a battling eighth-wicket partnership of 47 kept the visitors in the hunt. Harry Snowden (20) was finally run out, leaving top-scorer Benjamin Hulse unbeaten on 27.

Settle finally lost by just nine runs off the last ball of the game, but with a five-point deficit the Marshfield men will take Wanderers to the wire with two matches remaining.

Meanwhile, Earby climbed up the table with a 11-run win over Read.

Luke Hipgrave (59) and captain Jake Hargreaves (42) were the main reasons why the hosts set a decent 162/9 target.

Despite Jack Wood's 74, Read ran out of overs as Hipgrave (4-24) excelled with the ball too.

Barnoldswick's trip to Salesbury was abandoned.

John Tarbox took 5-1 as Settle seconds finished their Division One season as runners-up after beating Brinscall.