A MINUTE'S silence was observed before Saturday's league match at Marshfield in honour of Settle CC President Tom Sharp who had passed away two days previously.

Chairman Andrew Davidson wrote: "It was with great shock and sadness that we learn of the passing of Tom. He was sat last Sunday in his usual shady spot under the trees, watching a top match against Cherry Tree. He was pleased that he had seen a good game go to the wire.

"It's safe to say that Tom would agree he was not the greatest of cricketers, more meadow than Lord’s, but he loved the game and would turn out for the 2nds regularly in the 1950s and 1960s. He umpired well into his early 80s and upon retirement he was a regular at Marshfield, was elected President and his end-of-season speeches always ended in tears. Sometimes at the recall of good friends passed, sometimes due to the success of the young team sweeping all before them, sometimes recalling overcoming cancer and sometimes because he was honoured to be SCC President. If there was a reason to shed a tear, Tom found it. He was one of a handful of folk in Settle who have been President of both North Ribblesdale RUFC and Settle CC, showing his true love of local amateur sport.”

The chairman also paid tribute to long-standing club supporter Joyce Riseley who had recently passed away.

As for the match, Cherry Tree were back at Marshfield seeking to avenge the narrow defeat they had just suffered in the Hamer Cup. It was another game that went down to the last over, but with a win for the visitors.

Settle elected to bat on a rock-hard track but were struggling on 12-3 before Ben Hulse (15) defied the bowlers for 41 deliveries. After the next three batsmen went for single figures, Adam Strickland (14 from 46) followed Hulse’s example.

The innings was finally rescued by a ninth-wicket partnership of 56 by Tom Davidson and an unbeaten James Snowden who each made 35 in a total of 150 all out.

The hosts got off to the best possible start in reply when pro Ashen Silva had Neil Timmers caught for a duck by Callum Mathew, removing the man who had taken Settle for 93 the week before. Skipper Will Davidson then did his best juggling the six available bowlers, switching ends and constantly adjusting the field as Cherry approached their target. Silva and Tremaine Dowrich claimed two wickets apiece, but the last ball of the penultimate over saw a mis-hit looping over third man for the boundary and a three-wicket defeat.

This week Settle travel to Read who are in a similar position half-way down the table, and will look to get a firmer toe-hold on the NW Premiership.

The weekend had started very well with a T20 victory at Oswaldtwistle on Friday. Silva made 56 at a run a ball, with support from Dowrich (19) and Hulse (16). The Lancastrians ran Settle close chasing 125, but Silva's 3-11 and 2-24 from Dowrich held them off, before a great spell at the death by Archie Phillipson (2-7) left them nine runs short.

In NW Conference North Paul Dockerty took four wickets at Cherry Tree but Settle 2nds still faced a 260 target. Nick Cokell’s battling 75 could not prevent a 28-run defeat. Edward Bradley took 4-27 in the Development Division as Craven rivals Earby made 199-9, but Settle lost by 157 runs inside 19 overs.