Ramsbottom Cup Final: Read v Great Harwood

PROFESSIONALS Peter Sleep and Andy Crook are hoping for a bumper crowd to cheer them on when they go head to head in tomorrow's Ramsbottom Cup final.

The Ribblesdale League showpiece event takes place at Padiham, and Read paid man Sleep is hoping fans will forget local rivalry for one day and get behind his team.

Sleep said: "There's great rivalry between Read and Padiham but a lot of Padiham people I've spoken to are hoping we win.

"We are only two or three miles from each other so I'm hoping they will be backing us.

"We are going there again in a couple of weeks for a league game, so I'm sure the rivalry will be back then!"

Great Harwood's own Wizard of Oz, Crook, added: "I've heard a lot of people turn out for these cup finals.

"Padiham is pretty close to both Read and Great Harwood so it should be a good crowd."

Both professionals are aware of each other's strengths, as they should be with both sides occupying the top two places in the Ribblesdale League.

But while Read are in pole position to claim their second consecutive title, Crook still feels his side could yet beat them to the double - but they'll have to win all seven of their remaining games to do it.

He said: "It would be a big confidence booster to win the cup and give us some hope.

"We've got to win our last six league games and rely on Read to get beaten by someone else apart from us. It's not inconceivable."

There is certainly plenty of mutual respect between the two Aussies as they gear up for tomorrow's Arbories showdown.

Crook said: "Sleepy is the best pro in the competition. He has the ability to bat through an innings while he can bowl 10 overs for virtually no runs.

'We need to make sure that when he and Oliver Newby bowl we keep them out and go on from there."

Sleep said: "We are confident because we have a reasonable record against Great Harwood but anything can happen.

"They are a very dangerous team to play with likes of Crook, Russell Whalley and Alan Armer. If they play well on their day they can beat anybody.

"Their bowling may be a fraction stronger than ours but everything is equal anyway in a big game like this."

Both sides are pretty much at full strength, but Great Harwood have Paul Newton returning after three weeks out to challenge for a place in the side.

Lifting the trophy would complete a double celebration for captain Gordon Simpson at the end of a week in which his first baby was born.

Read have included Frank Barden, who is carrying an injury, with Liam Woodvine as 12th man.

The final gets under way at 1pm.