Captain's Log, with David Hayes of Cherry Tree

7pm Monday June 5, Blackpool cells: Telephone call for PC1603 Hayes: "Hazey, Brammers here. I need a 400 word article off you by 8am tomorrow morning at the latest."

Midnight: PC1603 returns home to begin this article. Thanks Brammers.

The millennium will be remembered for many things, and not least as the year the Ribblesdale League was put on the map by Messrs Sharma and Rehman.

A pre-season article in a national newspaper linked Padiham's new professional Ajay Sharma with a bookmaker involved in one "Hansie Cronje affair," referring to Sharma as a "middle man".

The ink had barely dried on this report when the findings of the Qayyum enquiry into match-fixing in Pakistan were published, with recommendations that one Ata-ur-Rehman should be banned from international cricket.

This revelation proves problematic for Whalley (who were to host Blackburn Northern in their next game), who had to provide running water and in anticipation of the impending media circus descending on their ground.

None of the national media coverage was quite as blunt as the article published last Thursday by the sports editor of this paper, under the headline "Ban the cheat now".

I have pencilled Neil in for his one appearance of the season in our return fixture at home against Blackburn Northern. August 6 is the date, don't miss it. I myself will try and be a little more objective, especially in view of the fact I may have to face Ata on Cherry Tree's 'sporting' wicket later in the year.

I believe in the saying "innocent until proven guilty". Ata-ur-Rehman has been found guilty, and although many people may have sympathy for him, believing he was made a scapegoat for others, he appears to admit his guilt in some way whenever questioned about the matter.

The Ribblesdale League hierarchy now have a duty to act swiftly and positively, taking whatever action they see fit.

Before leaving the question of match fixing, I must highlight an amusing quote from Neil Weaver, Blackburn Northern's captain. When asked about Ata, Neil replied: "I know he has been found guilty of perjury, but I have no reason to doubt his integrity."

What of the season so far for Cherry Tree? An excellent start, especially from professional Naeem Ashraf, sees us top of the league, the highlight being his destruction of the Blackburn Northern bowling attack. It is, of course, early days and very few points separate top and bottom following the damp start to the season. This has thrown up confusion in the last three games we have played in, with players, umpires and supporters alike having serious problems understanding the ambiguous rules in place for rain affected games.

Even the normally unflappable Jim Kenyon on Radio Lancashire was turned into a bumbling wreck on Sunday while commentating on our rain shortened game against Read. He was heard to say: "That's it, Cherry Tree have reached their target, the game's over. No it's not, they are staying on, oh, I don't know, I don't understand it."

The wet weather did throw up a rarity this weekend. Blackburn Northern has two games washed out and thus secured points on both days in a weekend. Apparently the last time this occurred was when Ronnie Walton moved one back up the hill in the late 1950s.

This weekend takes us to Padiham for a top of the table clash. Padiham remain my clear favourites for the title. They have an excellent professional, backed up by a good mix of youth and experience in the amateur ranks.

Goodnight.