OSWALDTWISTLE Immanuel are aiming to pick up their first piece of silverware since they joined the higher reaches of the Ribblesdale League.
The New Lane team are in the semi-finals of the League’s 20/20 competition, facing Whalley at Station Road on Sunday (2pm start).
If they can get through that, then Gerard Metcalf’s side would face double chasing Edenfield in the final after they saw off Settle in their last four clash.
"It is a big game for us," said the Immanuel skipper, who was watching his son Daniel play for Lancashire Under 15s this week.
"We have sneaked into the competition via the back door really as we finished runners-up to Cherry Tree in our group but they were thrown out of the competition," said Metcalf, with Cherry Tree charged with using abusive language in one of their 20/20 Group games against Blackburn Northern and being ejected from the competition.
"But we have got to take our chances. We have only been in the senior league since the mid-1990s but have never won a senior cup so it is a big opportunity for us.
"We have done okay in the 20/20 competitions in recent years and we only missed out on run-rate or else we would have reached the semi-finals last year so we stand a decent chance. We are only one game away from a final."
It would be a huge achievement for Immanuel who are currently propping up the Ribblesdale League table and are desperate for a winning run in the league.
Saying that, there have been some solid performances this season. Gerard Metcalf has taken 33 wickets, Imran Abid has 30 and Andrew Metcalf has 28.
"The three of us are in the top ten amateurs in the league for wicket taking so we have got to be pleased with that," said Metcalf.
It is just the batting which has let them down. Pro Andrew Kerr has 524 runs but the captain admits he needs more of his players to contribute.
"We are only a young team who are still learning so hopefully, with natural progression, we will improve for next season.
"Some of the more experienced players haven’t been able to chip in with important 20s or 30s which would make a difference and we need them to do that."
Immanuel will be hoping to get off the bottom tomorrow, ahead of their cup clash, but face a tough game at fifth place Barnoldswick.
BAXENDEN will have to hold their nerve tomorrow as the second placed side take on third placed Edenfield. Both teams are looking to challenge GREAT HARWOOD for the title - the league leaders are at home to Cherry Tree.
ALL last weekend’s games were rained off.
HARWOOD take on Lancashire League side Rishton in the their second 20/20 friendly clash tonight at Blackburn Road. It is a 6pm start.
