Bolton cricket clubs will tomorrow begin the chase to land an elusive trophy.

Only three Bolton clubs have ever won the Lancashire Knockout Trophy, and it is 11 years since this area tasted success in the Old Trafford final.

For an area which boasts two leading leagues their record in the competition is hardly inspiring.

Little Lever, Egerton and Farnworth Social Circle are the only Bolton winners in the competition, Circle the last to win when they beat Dalton in 1987, a year after they had lost to Fleetwood at Old Trafford.

Westhoughton, Horwich and Walkden have also appeared in the final but failed to win while no Bolton Association side has yet made it to Old Trafford. One reason for that could be the increasing amount of cricket played by the League and the Association, which has often led to clubs playing weakened sides.

Even so, when the competition gets under way again tomorrow, Bolton sides will have as much chance as any to bring home the trophy.

The League is represented by champions Tonge, Hamer Cup winners Egerton, Kearsley, Westhoughton and Walkden. The Association rely on Golborne, Clifton, Egerton, Atherton and Darcy Lever Tonge face a possible banana skin against Palace Shield side Vernon Carus. The Preston side reached the final last season after coming out tops in a quarter final match against Westhoughton which the Bolton League side were widely expected to win.

Egerton, too, may not have things all their own way against Edenfield and will probably be thankful of home advantage while Westhoughton will need to be on top form against Ormskirk.

Walkden have a first round bye but are nowhere near as strong as they were last season and the same could be said of Edgworth, who are currently bottom of the Association, and who face a trip to Wavertree. Golborne should go through at the expense of Chorley side Eccleston and so should Atherton at home to Liverpool Nalgo and Darcy at home to Vickerstown, but no one will envy Clifton their long trip to the Lancashire-Cumbria border to face North Lancs League side Haverigg or Kearsley who could face tough opposition at Wythenshawe. All in all there are signs that the majority of our representatives could come through but there are some stiff ties awaiting them in the second round.

If we can get one of our clubs to Old Trafford in September then let's hope that for once we have something to cheer about.

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