READ were crowned Veka Ribblesdale League champions after a last-match showdown with Settle.

The Dales side went into the final day of the season with a one point advantage but crashed to an eight wicket defeat at Read's Whalley road ground. Only Mark Verden hit batting form with 54 as Oliver Newby, fresh from scoring a century with Lancashire 2nd XI, picked up four wickets.

Settle were dismissed for 115 and Read knocked off the winning runs with just two wickets down as Nick Marsh scored 52 not out.

Great Harwood took third place despite being beaten by Barnoldswick who had former Lancashire star Ian Austin as sub professional. He took 6-45 and followed up with 77 not out with Paul Holdsworth scoring 60 for Gt Harwood.

Ribblesdale Wanderers slipped to a five-wicket defeat at Oswaldtwistle after Gerard Metcalf took 6-46 and professional Raja Ali scored 68 on their way to victory.

Bottom club Whalley collected their fourth victory of the season after spin bowler Simon Gorton picked up 6-13 to dismiss Earby for 86. Gorton then scored 35 not out as the home side secured a three-wicket win. Farooq Butt took 8-13 to bowl Padiham out for 65 and Blackburn Northern won by nine wickets. Brett Storey scored a half-century for Edenfield, but they were dismissed for 122 and Clitheroe picked up a seven-wicket win with Mark Bolton scoring 42 not out.

Settle and Read had both collected maximum points on Saturday with Stuart Hornby scoring 58 and taking 7-48 in Settle's win over Ribblesdale Wanderers. Settle pro Robin Morris scored 58 as they reached 161-8.

Read professional Danny Law took four wickets as Blackburn Northern were dismissed for 144, Craig Walton scored 49 to see Read to victory. Barnoldswick opener Ian Scothern batted through their innings for 55 to secure a seven-wicket win over Clitheroe. Earby's professional, Mohammed Ayub, scored 66 as they Applegarth side beat Oswaldtwistle despite five wickets for Gerard Metcalf.Aussie professional Andy Crook scored 102 as they picked up the points against Cherry Tree despite an innings of 113 not out from their professional Zahoor Ali.

Edenfield professional Adam Webb scored 83 as they beat Padiham by four wickets with A Sharif scoring 63 as Liam Bones picked up 5-75.

In the closest game of the day Whalley needed a six off the last ball to

beat Baxenden. Jonathan Harvey scored 52 for the home club and Whalley

skipper Martin Davies scored 65, but his side saw their hopes of victory

end with a final catch on the boundary edge.

Results -- Saturday: Barnoldswick 116-3 (7 points) Clitheroe 115 (0); Baxenden 182-6 (5), Whalley 177-7 (0); Blackburn Northern.