THERE looks to be only game in town this weekend - and it could decide the destination of the Bolton League championship.
Tomorrow, leaders Walkden play hosts to Westhoughton, the side they displaced at the top a couple of weeks ago, and a win could be vital for either side.
Twenty winning points would give Walkden some breathing space, while if Westhoughton were to win, they would have their noses back in front for the crucial run-in.
It is a very big, big game, yet that suits Westhoughton down the ground, after they passed two tough tests of their character in the last couple of weeks.
First they came back from a surprise defeat against Egerton in the League to beat Greenmount the following day in the final of the Hamer Cup, and then last week they went to Settle in the semi-final of the Thwaites Knockout and won through to the Old Trafford final after chasing the Ribblesdale League
side's 255.
"After those two games, we're confident about playing anybody," said captain Steve Parker. "Really it's a case of bring on the big games. We're enjoying playing in them, and we're enjoying winning.
"Up to a couple of weeks ago, we always seemed to be the bridesmaids, but the Hamer Cup win changed that, and then in the Settle game we showed just how well we can play.
"Big totals don't scare us, we know we have the players who can get runs, and, even when they're out, we still have others who will pick up the challenge."
That was certainly true at Settle when, after Ian Pilkington had given their reply a magnificent start with 77, an unbeaten middle order partnership between Rick Parker and Atherton saw Westhoughton home with 10 balls to spare.
"I don't think Settle could believe it," said Parker. "Nobody has got more than 180 chasing their totals this season until we came along. They were stunned."
"But then Ian Pilkington, our pro Antonio Mayers, and myself, have all got over 600 runs each, a lot of the others are over the 400 mark, so we know we can bat and get big totals."
Pilkington, however, has had an exceptional season. "He really is on top form. In fact he's had so many headlines this year we think he's got his own hot-line to the Evening News," joked the captain.
Westhoughton chairman Brendan Durham, however, reckons he knows the secret of his side's success - team spirit. "We've just got a great bunch of players. Most of them have grown up with the club and apart from the pro, we don't pay any of them. In fact, two of them make round trips of around 400 miles each to play for us. Ranjit Bhanabai comes up from London most weekends, and Paul Atherton is a serving soldier stationed at Havorfordwest in Wales, but when he gets leave, he makes the trip up to play."
Tomorrow, Westhoughton have a full squad to choose from, and captain Steve Parker admits that having to leave players out can be a headache. "It's a nice problem, though, and all the players know that the team we put out is the best available."
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