BARNOLDSWICK welcome back classy South African James Peterson who smashed a massive 1216 runs at an average of 52.87 with a top score of 154 not out.

BAXENDEN have Andrew Payne as professional, a former amateur at Rawtenstall before moving to Whalley, on to Somerset for a season and then to Central Lancashire League club Middleton last year.

BLACKBURN NORTHERN have turned to New Zealand to sign off-spinning all-rounder Ian Billcliff, who has played for Otago and Wellington and scored nearly 2,000 for Northern Lancs League side Cleator last season.

CHERRY TREE have again secured the services of Aussie Scott Pearce who broke the league's batting record with 186 not out against Ribblesdale Wanderers. He also bowls leg spin - very occasionally.

CLITHEROE have also retained former Ramsbottom amateur and off spinner Jonathan Fielding after his first season haul of 71 wickets at 18.66 and 538 runs at 25.62.

EARBY have signed batsman Jonathan Harvey, who broke the Burnley amateur batting record last year, a former member of the Lord's groundstaff and brother of Lancashire youngster Mark Harvey.

EDENFIELD have again turned to former Rawtenstall amateur Keith Roscoe who spearheaded Edenfield's charge last season with a magnificent 86 wicket left arm spin haul.

GREAT HARWOOD have secured the scoop of the year in replacing Paul Hutchison with fiery all-rounder Chris Killen, a former Barnoldswick and Enfield professional who could help build on last year's Ramsbottom Cup success.

OSWALDTWISTLE IMMANUEL had intended to welcome back popular Aussie Peter Smith but an injury forced the club to turn to Aussie Peter Gardiner, a left-arm spinner who has played for Scotland.

PADIHAM raised a few eyebrows when they released Gurinder Pal Singh, especially after his sparkling 150 not out on the final day of the season. However, those eyebrows were further raised when Jamaican paceman Joseph Grant was secured as a replacement.

READ have again turned to the sub-continent in signing pacy Pakistani all-rounder Shaid Nawaz who greatly impressed on the occasions he stood in for Naeem Ashraf last year.

RIBBLESDALE WANDERERS pounced to snap up Gurinder Pal Singh after his release by Padiham despite scoring 867 runs and taking 54 wickets.

SETTLE have retained Paul Beech who started his cricketing life with Barnoldswick and scored 960 runs - with a top score of 124 - with 44 wickets last season.

WHALLEY welcome back Mark Fallon, a former amateur at the club and a fluent strokemaker and nippy medium pacer who has had a number of professional posts in other leagues.

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