JOHN Cockroft is bang on course to lift the Lancashire Evening Telegraph sponsored Harold Ryden Trophy for the first time in his career after a blistering display in Saturday's qualifying stages.

The Nelson player topped the list of qualifiers thanks to stunning rounds of 65 and 70 over his home course.

And there will be something of a Nelson cartel when tonight's matchplay stages get underway with five of the eight qualifiers all from the host club.

Andy Sumner, Craig Fort, Martin Spiers and Ian Short all join club-mate Cockroft in the last eight.

But the 21-year-old Nelson man is sure to start off as favourite after blowing the rest of the field away.

"I wanted to get a good first round score in so I didn't have too much pressure on me in the afternoon," said Cockroft after his sparkling first round 65.

"And, fortunately for me, things went well in the morning so I was able to relax a bit in the afternoon."

Cockroft's opening round contained seven birdies.

One under after nine, he came back in a four under 31 which was simply too hot for the rest of the field. He found it slightly tougher going in the afternoon but another solid 70 ensured he finished as the top qualifier.

Now he faces club-mate Sumner in the last eight tonight but he is not taking anything for granted.

"The main thing was to qualify but now I've done that, I've got to start again because Saturday's scores don't count for anything," said Cockroft.

"I've got a tough game tonight.

"I've played Andy before and he's a great player."

Of the remaining qualifiers, Burnley young gun Ben Scott and Pleasington prodigy Nathan Ward both impressed in booking their places in the last eight.

Ward will face Stonyhurst's Mark Young thanks to rounds of 67 and 71.

And Scott will meet Nelson's Craig Fort courtesy of a 67 and 72.

In the other quarter final, Nelson stalwart Short takes on club-mate Spiers.

But there is no place in the last eight for defending champion Andy Samuels whose rounds of 79 and 77 were not good enough to secure a qualifying spot.