EARBY'S season got the shot in the arm it needed with a fantastic win over Read in the first round of the Ramsbottom Cup on a day which saw all three Craven sides progress.

Despite being bottom of the league and fielding a depleted side which was missing skipper Chris Walton, they romped to a 99 run victory at the home of the 2003 winners.

Although he was absent, the win will have been particularly sweet for Walton, who is currently on holiday in Mauritius, where his brother Craig - a former Earby player who now plays for Read - is getting married.

Stand-in skipper Stephen Hipgrave saw his side get off to the perfect start as openers Sam Munns (78) and professional Mohammad Ayub (74) put on 144 for the first wicket. Stephen Pickles was back in the first team for the first time in years and chipped in with 35 as they reached 224 for 6.

Read were never at the races in reply as Peter Baistow bowled six overs for just six runs - his first five being maidens.

Robert Cockell took 4 for 22 as Read were shot out for 125.

Earby's stand-in captain, Stephen Hipgrave, was delighted with the performance of his side.

"We were certainly the under-dogs but every member of the team performed superbly. We needed the openers to give us a good start which is exactly what we got from Sam Munns and Ayub, it was probably Sam's best innings for Earby.

"That 144-run start before the first wicket fell gave everyone a confidence boost and Steve Pickles backed it up with another superb innings. To have two youngsters, Jonathan Martin and Matt Haines, not out at the end was a tremendous bonus and shows there is a really bright future for the club.

"Pete Baistow's bowling was amazing, without a run scored off his first five overs, and Rob Cockell mopped things up later in the innings."

Earby will look to take their cup form into the league when they visit Clitheroe this Saturday before playing Manchester club Stretford in the Lancashire Cricket Board knockout competition on Sunday.