On this bank holiday weekend as we continue to wait and see if there will be any cricket played this season we look back at the final month of a thrilling 1996 season and the last two games of a titanic 3 way title battle.
Going into September Earby started the month with a one point lead in the title race from Great Harwood with Read back in third.
The penultimate game saw Earby travel to Back Lane to take on Baxenden. Unfortunately there is no match report from the game however Earby won to leave their fate and title aspirations in their own hands.
Following the victory at Baxenden, Great Harwood’s shock defeat at the hands of Cherry Tree and Read’s win against Ribblesdale Wanderers on the penultimate weekend it set up a terrific final day in the Vaux Ribblesdale League with all three sides fighting it out for the title.
In a twist of fate Earby entertained Great Harwood who were now in 3rd place following their defeat the previous week knowing that victory, even without picking up the bonus points would give them their first championship since the double double winning season of 1991.
Great Harwood's only chance of claiming their first title for 96 years was to beat Earby, take the maximum seven points and hope that Read who were at home to struggling Settle slipped up.
For Read going into the final day in second place they would need to claim full points against Settle and hope for a Harwood victory at the Applegarth to claim the title.
Going into the last game Earby's cause was not be helped by a couple of last-day absentees with both skipper Ian Clarkson and strike bowler Glyn Sedman away on holiday.
This however didn’t stop them as a huge crowd at the Applegarth saw them claim a 5 wicket win against the side in third place to claim the 1996 Ribblesdale League title.
Batting first Harwood recovered from a poor start to set a target of 190 for eight from their allotted overs with professional Chris Killen undefeated on 58.
The target however was not enough for the Earby batters with opener Nigel Pickles equaling the club batting record of 1035 runs for the season despite being caught on 34 going for the runs which would take him past John Rainger's 1991 mark.
Nigel Pickles
A mini collapse put Great Harwood back in the hunt but a century partnership from man of the match Paul Tilbury with 69 and professional Jonathan Harvey 51 not out saw them to victory for the loss of 5 wickets and the title.
Earby 192-5 Great Harwood 190-8
The season ended with everyone playing a major part in the first title success for five years with the side going on an 11 game unbeaten run as well going undefeated at the Applegarth during the successful league campaign.
1996 Title Winning Side
Back : Nigel Pickles, Stephen Pickles, Peter Baistow, Jonathon Harvey (Professional), Lee Parkinson & Andrew Pickles
Front : Matthew Plant, Stephen Hipgrave, Chris Walton, Sam Munns & Paul Tilbury
Missing from photo : Ian Clarkson (Captain) & Glyn Sedman
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