THE Northern Premier League are introducing a 20-overs a side competition this season, to be known as the Thwaites Twenty20 Cup.

Arrangements were made at a meeting on Monday last. The brewery already sponsor the league's major cup competition.

The coloured clothing, already launched in the league cup, will again be worn. There are to be three groups, two of four teams and one of five, with matches played on a round-robin basis.

Interestingly, Darwen and Chorley are in the same group, together with the two Leyland clubs, Leyland Motors and Leyland.

Matches are to be played on three consecutive Tuesday evenings in June (8th, 15th and 22nd) and the highlight for our two local sides is the clash between Chorley and Darwen at Windsor Park on June 22.

The winners of each group, plus the best runner-up, will contest the semi-finals.

Similar competitions are set to be played in the Lancashire and Central Lancashire Leagues with the idea of the winners in each league playing off for an outright winner.

Chorley and Darwen also meet on Monday in the league at Windsor Park in a repeat of last weekend's National Knock-out tie.

It was Chorley who booked their place in the regional semi-final, to take on Liverpool's Sefton Park at home, and Darwen chairman Peter Lamster knows his team will have their work cut out to exact revenge.

He said: "Chorley looked good last week and have some very good youngsters. But we have as well so we're looking forward to some more good local rivalry."

Tomorrow Chorley are at Lancaster and Darwen at St Anne's in the league.

(but I can't confirm this). You may be able to find out more yourselves. One other item: Chorley will be at home to Liverpool side Sefton Park in the regional semi-final of the National Knockout Cup on Sunday, 6th June.