Settle CC are ready to meet the challenge of going for a fantastic five titles in a row when they usher in the new North West Cricket League at home to Farnworth tomorrow (1pm).

The Marshfield Road club won the last four Ribblesdale League crowns, and confidence is high that another trophy can be secured.

But captain Will Davidson has stressed it will not be over-confidence.

“We’re proud we got the last ever win in the Ribblesdale League because we were amongst the founder members and were the first club who won it (in 1893),” said batting all-rounder Davidson.

“We’re going for five in a row, and we hope we can do it. But it will be a different challenge – a lot more teams, different grounds we’re not aware of.

“There’s pretty much half the teams we don’t know much about, so there will be a fresh look every time. That will be very interesting.

“We’ve been quite successful where we’ve come from, but we’re certainly not walking into this assuming it will be a given. In fact, we never do that anyway. 

“It’s a fragile game if you’re not on point. 

“Going into every game with the mentality you can’t take your foot off the pedal is very important if you’re going for the league.”

Twenty four teams will tackle the 23-round first season of the NWCL, with 13 teams coming from the old Ribblesdale League and 11 coming from the old Bolton League.

After this summer, the table will be equally split into two divisions for next year. 

“That is the great thing about this season,” said Davidson. “Everybody has something to play for right to the end even if you’re not at the top.”

Settle have retained the services of professional Ashen Silva, the experienced Sri Lankan all-rounder scoring 1,327 runs and taking 71 wickets last summer.

But they have lost highly-rated young seamer Harry Snowden, who struck 60 times last year before moving to Jimmy Anderson country – the Lancashire League side Burnley. His batting twin James remains at Settle and will be key to success.

“We’re very proud of Harry that he’s got the chance to further his ability,” continued Davidson. 

“That’s what it’s about for clubs like us. If he goes and plays county cricket, we’ve kind of done our job.”

Given their North Yorkshire location – “we’re really in the middle of Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria,” said the skipper – it is key for Settle to produce and retain their own talent.

They have a thriving junior and women’s section, the latter run by former Scotland international Caitlin Ormiston.

“Every player in our first team has been a junior at the club,” said Davidson, before assessing his team’s main rivals for the title.

“I couldn’t comment on Bolton because I don’t really know.

“From the Ribblesdale, there’s a few. Padiham and Read were the stronger two behind us. I imagine they will look to push again. Salesbury also had a very good, balanced team last year, and I think they could be dark horses.

“Everyone is just really looking forward to it.

“It’s a chance to create some new relationships as well because there’s nothing better than playing a hard-fought game and having a chat about it afterwards.”