LOWERHOUSE stalwart Chris Bleazard wants to cap a personal milestone by helping his team earn their first piece of silverware.
The 36-year-old reached the 10,000 run mark in the Liverpool Road outfit's away win over Accrington.
And Bleazard would love nothing more than to top that off by helping his side ditch their trophyless tag.
Lowerhouse are renowned for being the only team in the Lancashire League to not win any of the competitions in the League's 103-year history.
After reaching the semi-finals of the Worsley Cup last season, they were knocked out at the first hurdle by Bacup this year. So the only chance of them ending that barren spell is if they clinch the League title this season.
And Bleazard believes that cannot be ruled out as just 11 points separate mid-table Lowerhouse and leaders Colne.
"It would be the icing on the cake if we could win something," said Bleazard, who made his Lowerhouse debut 17 years ago.
"We can't afford to lose any more games. We lost the first three of the season but we've won our last five.
"The League's pretty open -everyone seems capable of beating everyone else, although the stronger sides are towards the top already.
"But who knows what could happen."
As for his personal triumph, Bleazard said: "It was a bit difficult judging when I would actually reach the 10,000 run mark because we haven't got the full records at Lowerhouse. So I wasn't sure when or where it would happen.
"It was just a case of keeping going until someone gave me official confirmation.
"Over the last two months or so of last season I was sure it was quite close, so I was delighted to finally reach 10,000 last Saturday.
"Nigel Stockley (Lancashire League website editor) told me a couple of weeks ago that I was about 57 runs away so I knew when I was on 50 last weekend that I was quite close and just had to keep going while I was batting."
In the end, Bleazard hit the milestone in emphatic style as he cracked an unbeaten 106 at Thorneyholme Road.
"It was nice to go on and get another 50 after that but I'm not sure what's next as I very rarely set myself targets. I just try to get 500 runs every season and see how things go from there."
Three Lancashire League teams will be battling for a place in the Inter League Trophy semi-finals tomorrow.
Ramsbottom entertain Rochdale, Haslingden travel to Royton and Enfield are at home to Oldham, with the remaining fixture being Heywood v Crompton. All matches start at 1.30pm.
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