AFTER toppling defending champions Cherry Tree last week, Blackburn Northern will be out to claim another scalp this weekend - but Great Harwood are determined it won't happen.

Harwood make the trip to Pleckgate Road tomorrow as they look to go one better than the runners-up spot they finished in the Jennings Ribblesdale League last season and also to defend successfully the Ramsbottom Cup.

And new captain Ian Threlfall admitted there was a small smile of delight when he heard that Northern had defeated main title rivals Cherry Tree on the opening day of the season - but doesn't want to let it happen to them.

"We were shocked when we heard the result," admitted the captain, who has taken over from Paul Houldsworth for this summer.

"But that is the way it goes sometimes. I do not know too much about Blackburn Northern but I was pleased to see that the team who finished above us last time out were beaten in their first game - even though there is a long way to go."

Another plus was the fact Great Harwood got off to a great start - defeating Baxenden, who finished third last summer, by 54 runs.

"I was pleased with the way we applied ourselves in that game," said Threlfall who thinks Baxenden have the best side on paper and have the league's best English professional in Jonathan Harvey.

"We have lost a couple of important players over the years - Richard Lamb a couple of seasons ago and this summer Cameron McKay and Daniel Cheeseborough - and we have always had to replace them.

"We are still learning to cope after losing important players and I am pleased with the way we have started. I was really proud of the lads."

Threlfall was particularly impressed with Phillip Allen who has come through the ranks at Cliffe Park.

"It is his first full season and he got 46 against Baxenden which turned it around for us. He is only be around 20 and he is the best technical batsman we have here. He is steady.

"He was floating around on Saturday and I thought if we had lost an early wicket I would have put him in at number three, as a third opener if you will.

"We didn't and we made 26 but then we lost the first wicket and then another on 26.

"So I told Phillip to go in and take his time and keep it steady and he struck up a good partnership with Paul Houldsworth, they made 60-odd together."

This helped Great Harwood to 177-8 with Baxenden ending on 123-8.

The victory made it a sweet first game in charge for the 39-year-old captain - and he wants the same 'sensible cricket' for the rest of the season

"There is no pressure on anyone really but we have got to keep applying ourselves as we did in the first game. It was good, sensible cricket.

"I enjoyed being the captain but it does help when you are winning!

"I make the decisions. There will be some right ones but I won't be right all the time.

"I am old enough to take any stick if it comes my way, though."

TOMORROW'S FIXTURES: Blackburn Northern v Great Harwood; Clitheroe v Baxenden; Earby v Whalley; Edenfield v Cherry Tree; Padiham v Read; Ribblesdale Wanderers v Oswaldtwistle Immanuel; Settle v Barnoldswick.