THE destination of the Ribblesdale League title remains no clearer after last week's bank holiday double header.

The three front runners all picked up 12 points which leaves them in exactly the same position as last week ahead of another double weekend.

Leaders Settle - a point clear of Clitheroe and three clear of Barnoldswick - face a tricky trip to rejuvenated Earby tomorrow followed by a home game against fifth-placed Padiham on Sunday. Clitheroe entertain last year's title winners, Read, followed by a home game against Blackburn Northern, while Barlick are on the road at lower midtable sides Baxenden and Whalley.

A good weekend for one side coupled with off-days for another two could see the title sewn up by Sunday night. But it looks like going down to the wire on the final day next Saturday.

The game was in the balance at Marshfield last Saturday with Settle at 89-3 chasing Blackburn Northern's 193-7 and pro Mohammad Hafeez back in the hut for 34. But a stand of 63 between Stuart Hornby and Mark Verden settled nerves. Hornby was stumped for 50, but Verden guided his side home by four wickets with 61no.

Hornby hit form with the ball the day after on a soft wicket at Whalley. He took 4-33 and combined with Paul Ridgway (4-21) to shoot out the hosts for just 64. Settle didn't find batting easy either as they slipped to 29-4. But Tim Green (30no) and Keith Hornby (17no) saw them home by five wickets.

Barlick raced to an emphatic eight-wicket win at Ribblesdale Wanderers but just failed to pick up what could be a crucial two bonus points. Mike Scothern continued his dominance with the ball, taking 5-69 as he linked up well with pro Jeeva Kulatunga (4-48), but the visitors couldn't prise out the last man as Wanderers ended 157-9.

Having taken three catches and made one stumping, Matthew Nutter then took the plaudits with the bat, making 81no as Barlick romped home with nearly 14 overs to spare.

The Victory Park side did manage to claim all seven points the day after in the Yorkshire derby at home to neighbours Earby, but it was a close-run thing. Chasing 199-6, Earby were up with the required rate but ran out of wickets with the score on 175 and still four and a half overs left.

Nutter (37) again made a useful contribution for the hosts but it was Mike Scothern who showed his all-round value to the side, hitting an unbeaten 46 off just 41 balls to see them almost to the 200 mark. Earby pro Mohammad Ayub took 4-63 before putting on 74 for the opening wicket in reply with Sam Munns. When Ayub fell for 22 and then Munns for 54, Paul Tibury picked up the baton with 39. At 165-6, the visitors still had a sniff but Sid Sheraz (5-37) and Kulatunga (4-53) won it for Barlick.

Earby's loss was their first in seven games and came after a comprehensive win at Read the day before. Opener Munns was in prolific form again with 81 as he top-scored in Earby's challenging 238-7, Andrew Jaggers also producing the goods down the order with 46. Stephen Hipgrave then ripped through the Read batting with 6-34 as the hosts fell well short on 132 all out.