DEFEAT for Settle at Baxenden last weekend has put champions Read back in the driving seat at the top of the Veka Ribblesdale League title race and given added impetus to tomorrow's Craven derby at Marshfield, where Earby are visitors.

The Applegarth men have been moving along quite nicely of late and have leap-frogged arch-rivals Barnoldswick to capture fourth place in the Senior Division table.

With a place in the Lancashire knockout competition next season up for grabs, finishing in a top-four spot has a more tangible reward than simply the satisfaction of being among the front-runners and while there is no prospect of Earby getting into the title race, they will have plenty of incentive to dent Settle's hopes still further tomorrow.

Weather permitting there should be a decent crowd in attendance at Sandylands on Sunday when Skipton take on the Emmerdale XI in a charity match aimed at raising funds for Brooklands School in Skipton.

The organisers have come up with a novel way of increasing crowd participation by offering a £25 prize for the first spectator to catch a ball that has been hit for six. Skipton skipper David Whiteley insists that there will be chances to collect the money!

While the Skipton line-up will contain the usual suspects, the Emmerdale opposition will also have a handful of well-known faces from the popular soap in action.

Patrick Mower, Chris Chittell and John Middleton will be wielding the willow for the TV team, with Lorraine Chase adding a touch of glamour to the proceedings.

"Craven Council have been very good to us and we felt we wanted to give something back," says Whiteley. "A charity match, with Brooklands the beneficiaries, seemed a good choice and we're simply hoping that the weather is kind."

Wickets will be pitched at 2pm, with admission for adults £1 and children 50p. A barbeque and refreshments will be available.

Airedale & Wharfedale League

Division B: Silsden v Burley, Calverley v Steeton, Ilkley v Skipton. Division C: Olicanian v Addingham, Horsforth v Upper Wharfedale.

Veka Ribblesdale League

Senior Division: Padiham v Barnoldswick, Settle v Earby.

J P Mewies Craven League

Division One: Haworth WE v Thornton, Long Lee v Cowling, Cullingworth v Oakworth, Foulridge v Haworth, Sutton v Embsay, Bradley v Barrowford.

Division Two: Skipton CI v Airedale, Denholme v Bingley Congs, Cononley v Glusburn, Pendle Forest v Ingrow St John's, Ingrow v Haworth Road, Chatburn v Wilsden.

Division Three: Barrowford II v Crossflatts, Oakworth II v Carleton, Cowling II v Riddlesden, Embsay II v Gargrave, Ingrow St John's II - free week, Thornton II v Sandy Lane.

Division Four: Wilsden II v Bradley II, Glusburn II v Cullingworth II, Bingley Congs II v Long Lee II, Haworth II v Ingrow II, Haworth II v Pendle Forest II, Airedale II v Skipton CI II.

Division Five: Sandy Lane II v Chatburn II, Riddlesden II v Cononley II, Denholme II - free week, Pendle Forest III v Sutton II, Gargrave II v Foulridge II, Crossflatts II v Keighley TC.