The long-awaited clash between the top two teams in the Ribblesdale Senior League was surprisingly one-sided. Settle were missing three key players on Saturday but elected to bat first at Feniscowles.

Skipper Will Davidson set the tone with a mighty opening innings of 82, ably supported by a half-ton from pro Ashen Silva (59). Robbie Davidson made 46 and John Davidson 21 as the visitors charged on to 250-8 from their 45 overs.

Apart from an unbeaten 55 from Mark McGovern, the hosts had no reply to Settle’s bowling attack. Veteran paceman John Tarbox had been hauled from the second team at short notice and responded with a doughty 4-44 from 12 overs. Will Davidson crowned a superb all-round day with remarkable figures of 4-8. He started with four consecutive wicket maidens and was only denied a fifth after a very close lbw appeal was turned down. Feniscowles struggled to 110 all out.

Sunday’s home fixture against Baxenden was even more of a mismatch. Having got a taste for opening the batting, Will Davidson smacked three sixes in his 28 and was followed by John Davidson (30, Silva (36) and an unorthodox knock of 24 from Dante Niles. Contributions right down the order left Settle on a challenging 224-9.

Baxenden held on for 26 overs but the Marshfield bowlers overwhelmed them in the end. Harry Snowden had stunning figures of 4-4 in seven tight overs, while Tom Davidson (3-14) and Niles (3-10) reduced the visitors to 49 all out, a massive winning margin of 179 for the new league leaders. Settle are now nine points clear of the field and still have a washed-out game in hand.

Settle 2nd XI are firmly in control of Division One after beating Feniscowles seconds at home. After a shaky start at 10-2, Archie Phillipson (48) and Paul Dockerty (42) took calm control of the innings, leaving Joseph Pickles to strike 35 at a run a ball, and Kyle Handy unbeaten on 37 from just 30 balls in an entertaining finale.

Chasing 189 to win, the visitors mustered just 90 runs in 36 overs. It was the spinners’ day as Angus Ogden took three wickets for two runs, and Joseph Handy picked up an excellent five-wicket haul with figures of 5-17 from nine overs.

This Saturday the first team welcome a doubtless anxious Feniscowles for the return fixture, while the seconds travel for the corresponding match. The weekend’s main event is on Sunday when Settle travel to Turf Moor to take on Burnley in the Lancashire Cup quarter-final.