JEZ Hope believes Lowerhouse can get back on the EW Cartons Lancashire League title-trail with a morale-boosting victory at home to Enfield tomorrow.

The Liverpool Road outfit made a brilliant start to the season winning six of their opening seven games to go top of the table.

But they'be been in free-fall ever since, following a string of poor results, and the fault seems to lie in the side's batting.

Colne were the first side to take advantage, skittling Lowerhouse for just 47 in the Worsley Cup quarter finals three weeks ago.

Then Nelson heaped further misery on the Burnley-based club by dismissing them for a miserly 46 in the league seven days later.

And last weekend, Haslingden were the latest to capitalise, ousting them for 91.

But Hope isn't about to press the panic button and believes it only needs a couple of players to hit form again and normal service will soon be resumed.

"Everyone was batting very well at the start of the season but we all seem to have hit a bit of a lean spell at the same time," said Hope.

"We are all working very hard in the nets to get it right, though, and if two or three players can get back into form then we'll be back on track. "My brother, Nick, and Chris Bleazard were both in great form at the start.

"But they've hit a bit of a dodgy patch and it's been a bit like a domino effect on the rest of us.

"The same thing seems to have happened to us a few times over the last few years, though.

"We start really well and then tail off.

"I think that's because we've tended to play some of the weaker sides early on and then meet the better sides, like Nelson and Haslingden, at about this stage."

Enfield have made something of an indifferent start themselves, winning just three of their 11 league matches so far.

But they are through to the semi-finals of the Worsley Cup and Aussie professional Dave Saker has looked impressive during his first season in the Lancashire League.

Hope will lead Lowerhouse's bowling attack again tomorrow, fresh from his exploits in the Lancashire League's victory over the Central Lancashire League at Church this week.

But the 36-year-old has also been impressed by the form of quick-bowler Jonathan Russell, who has helped compensate for the loss through injury of spinner Ryan Hesketh. "Jonathan Russell looks a tremendous prospect," said Hope.

"He's bowling very fast and very straight at the moment and looks like he's been playing first team cricket all his life.

"We have missed Ryan Hesketh, who broke his leg playing football just before the start of the season.

"His left arm spin gives our bowling attack that extra bit of variation.

"But we've still got a decent, well balanced bowling attack which is more than capable of doing the job."

Tomorrow's fixtures: Accrington v Burnley, Bacup v Church, Haslingden v East Lancs, Lowerhouse v Enfield, Nelson v Rawtenstall, Rishton v Colne, Todmorden v Ramsbottom.

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