READ'S dismal run of form continued at the weekend.
Setbacks against reigning champions Great Harwood in the league and Ribble Valley rivals Clitheroe in the Ramsbottom Cup made it four defeats on the spin in all competitions.
On Saturday at Cliffe Park, rain delayed the start, with the teams final
ly emerging at 1-45 p.m. for a 43-over game.
Third place Harwood won the toss and inserted second place Read, but a sorry batting display saw the locals bowled out for just 115 in 38.3 overs.
Cricket, like football, should be played on the floor, but a total of six catches tells the story as Jon Harvey's side failed to apply themselves.
Only Michael Whalley and Andrew Rushton came out with any credit from a hugely disappointing showing.
Whalley came to the crease after opener Harvey fell for four, and went on to compile an innings worth 23 before he was bowled by professional Raouf Akbar.
A procession of batsmen came and went before Rushton, in at number eight, carved out an unbeaten 33 to edge Read into three figures, although a final score of 115 was barely respectable.
Stuart Maher ended with 5-34 for the hosts, while Akbar returned 3-74.
In reply, Harwood coasted home for the loss of just three wickets in 21.1 overs.
Opener Allan Armer made an undefeated 54, while Russ Whalley cracked 32.
The following day saw struggling Clitheroe earn a place in the Ramsbottom Cup semi-finals at Read's expense at Chatburn Road.
The Whalley Road men put up more of a fight, losing out by 19 runs, but again there were five catches in the Read innings as the batsmen struggled to keep their patience and discipline.
Clitheroe won the toss and chose to bat, and they racked up a tally of 204 as they were bowled out with two balls to spare of their 48 overs.
Despite Harvey seeing off professional Paul Turner and captain Peter Dibb cheaply, a number of solid contributions proved vital for Clitheroe.
Opener Jack Dewhurst made 21, while middle-order batsmen Josh McDowell (31), Neil Bolton (38). Matt Coulter (35) and Dan Turner (36) all chipped in to push the score out.
Harvey and Warren Eastham both finished with three wickets.
Read made a decent fist of their reply, with Nick Marsh (19) and Whalley (11) both reaching double figures, and Harvey took the fight to Clitheroe.
He found support from Kyle O'Connor (21), Joe Marshall (10) and Rushton (22), but once the former Burnley man was caught by Bolton off Dewhurst for 56, the game was up for Read, and they ended up short on 185-9.
Read will look to get back to winning ways at home to Ribblesdale Wanderers on Saturday.
