Read are relishing the prospect of doing it the hard way as they bid for Hamer Cup glory this weekend, says captain Will Wrathall.

The runaway leaders of the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League’s Championship division face reigning Premiership champions Little Lever in Sunday’s final - at the Bolton side’s Victory Road home (1pm).

Instead of the final being held at a neutral venue, as it was last year when Padiham beat Settle at Farnworth, a toss of the coin determined which finalist would play host this season.

Not that opening batter Wrathall is concerned. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.

His view is that the tougher the task, the more special victory would be.

“If you’re looking in from the outside, you’d definitely say that Little Lever are the favourites,” he said. “But to be the best, you have to beat the best don’t you.

“There was a lot of speculation as to whether it would be a neutral venue for the final. But, from our point of view, it would either be us playing at home and making some extra money or playing away and taking on the challenge of beating Little Lever at their place.”

Read are flying this season: “We’ve only lost two games in all competitions,” continued Wrathall, whose side have a free upcoming Saturday to rest up ahead of the final.

While Little Lever beat Astley Bridge in their semi-final last month, Read won at Earby by 121 runs as they bowled the hosts out for just 64 having posted 185 all out themselves.

Both sides will field substitute professionals in Sunday’s final, with batters Sam Fanning (Little Lever) having returned to Australia and Blayde Capell (Read) to South Africa.

Both teams have got batting all-rounders. Little Lever will field Aussie Mitchell Owen, a Tasmanian state player who is with Norden, while Read have employed Burnley’s South African Ockie Erasmus.

“Once I knew Blayde wasn’t going to be here for the final, Ockie was the first person I asked to play. I didn’t think about anyone else,” continued Wrathall.

“Going back a couple of years, before the league merged, we had our pro go home after one or two games. And we asked Ockie straightaway. He was basically with us for the full season because the Lancashire League played on Sundays.

“He’s not just some big name coming in. He’s one of us, and he gels with us well.”

In 20 matches for Read in all cricket this summer, Capell scored 991 runs with six 50s and two centuries and took 14 wickets. One of those tons came in the first-round win against Atherton - 131 - while Wrathall himself scored 103 in their quarter-final victory over Padiham.

Other impressive performers across the season include Matthew Heap with the ball and South African overseas all-rounder Zadian Muller.

“If it’s not been the pro, it’s been someone else. Everybody has contributed,” said Wrathall.

“I don’t think we’ve had the easiest run to the final. We’ve had two away games against teams from our league in Atherton and Earby, but our home games have been against Premiership teams in Padiham and Ribblesdale Wanderers.

“Apart from the pro, for obvious reasons, we’ve not had one standout player.”

Read beat Brinscall in the final to win the Ribblesdale League’s Ramsbottom Cup in 2019, but they were beaten by Settle in the 2022 final.

“Since I’ve played, I’ve never won a league, but I have won a Ramsbottom Cup and lost in the final as well,” said Wrathall, who says Read as a club will be taking a couple of buses to Little Lever on Sunday.

“I’ve seen both sides of it, and there’s definitely one day that’s better than the other!”

Read have been exceptional in the league, winning 13 out of the 14 matches in the Championship. The popular opinion across the NWCL is that they already have a place in next season’s Premiership division wrapped up.

But Wrathall added: “It’s white noise to us. We’re just taking it one game at a time. We don’t think for one minute that we’re up.

“We’re in a very good position, but we’re having to almost start again because we’ve not got Blayde anymore and we’re getting used to that. There are a lot of obstacles to overcome yet.

“It would be amazing if we could win the (league and cup) double, and it’s hard not to think about it. But that’s what we’re trying to do.”