THE Blackburn Combination has reached the stage of the season that at one time looked impossible.

That they have reached the final week of the season with just a handful of games to play must be regarded as some sort of miracle following the most horrendous weather conditions known in modern times.

Two of the league titles up for grabs have been decided, with Ewood crowned champions of the Premier Division and Griffin Celtic as runners up. These two will meet each other in the final of the Birtwistle Cup, to be played this coming Thursday at the Anchor Dround, Darwen (kick-off 6pm).

At the foot of the Premier Division, Crown Wallcoverings and Whitehall Top Con seem to be facing the drop to Division Two.

The second title to be won is in the Fourth Division, where Shaws of Darwen have taken the championship and the likely runners up are Crown Berger Res, needing just one point from their last three games.

The battle continues in the Second Division. Centurions have moved into top place, closely followed by Railway Hotel. The Hotel side need to win their remaining three games to be sure of the title. These games are against Pleasington, Witton Albion and Langho, who could still gain second place by winning their four outstanding games. Centurions and Railway are two of the sides they have yet to meet. Bangor Old Boys are certain to go down, along with one of three sides - YMCA, Rishton Res and Blackburn Utd - the latter need just one point from two games to be safe. These games are against Centurions and Langho.

Anchor Hotel still hold top place in the Third Division, but have completed their fixtures. New Gardeners, two points behind, have two games left. They need three points from these games, although with a better goal difference than Anchor, two points could be enough. Cupal and YMCA Res are facing the drop, although both of them have enough games left to overtake Athletico Mellor, who have completed their fixtures.

In the cup semi finals played in midweek, New Gardeners defeated Athletico Mellor to keep their hopes of the double alive. They will meet Worth Avenue in the final of the Cotton Cup, to be played at the Anchor, Darwen, on Thursday, May 11 (kick off 6.30pm). It is many years since Worth Avenue appeared in a final, going back to the time when they were a power in the "Comb." Avenue defeated Pleasington Res in the semi final, scoring the only goal of the game.

In the Livesey Cup final, also to be played at the Anchor on Tuesday, May 18, Shaws of Darwen, who defeated Grimshaw Park in the semis, will meet Printers, winners of the other semi against Brinscall.

Apart from a few games left to play on private grounds, the season officially ends next Saturday although an extension of use of council pitches will allow the remaining two rounds of the Sports Council Cup to be played on Monday and Tuesday, April 26 and 27. The draw for the semi finals will be made at Pleasington following the completion of games on Tuesday. Pleasington had a convincing 3-0 win against Liverpool Convocation in the Northern Cup competition and are now through to the semi finals where they will meet Tilston. It is hoped that this semi final will be played at Pleasington this coming Saturday. The final is to be played at the ground of Witton Albion (not the Combination side) on May 8. Another vital game will take place this week in the North West Inter League Alliance when Bolton entertain St Helens. Any result other than a win for the Saints will mean that Blackburn will qualify for the semi finals to meet Preston. The winners of this semi final will host the final. If Blackburn reach that far, the final will be staged at the Anchor, Darwen, towards the end of May.

Results - Colborne Trophies Premier Division: St Mary's COB 1, Alexandra Hotel 3; Rishton 4, West End CYC 2; Crown Berger 1, Netlon 1; St Mary's COB 2, Rishton 0; Crown Berger 2, Crown Wallcoverings 2; Alexandra Hotel 1, Old Toll Bar 2.

Hi-Tech Replacement Windows Second Division: Witton Albion 3, Centurions 5; Rishton Res 2, Blackburn YMCA 3; Bangor OB 0, Centurions 3; Ivy Hotel 4, Witton Albion 1.

Third Division: Blackburn YM Res 0, Blackburn Olympic 0; Cupal 0, New Gardeners 5; Alexandra Hotel Res 1, Blackburn Olympic 2; Blackburn YM Res 1, Pleasington Res 6; Anchor Hotel 5, Worth Avenue 2.

Neales Waste Management Fourth Division: Blackburn Olympic Res 4, Printers 1; Centurions B 5, Grimshaw Park 6; Railway Hotel Darwen 6, Pleasington C 0; St Matthews Res 4, Rishton C 4; Crown Berger Res 3, Rishton C 0; Shaws of Darwen 2, Grimshaw Park 2; Pleasington C 2, Brimscall 0. Cotton Cup semi finals: New Gardeners 3, Athletico Mellor 0; Worth Avenue 1, Pleasington Res 0.

Livesey Cup semi-finals: Shaws of Darwen 5, Grimshaw Park 1; Brinscall 1, Printers 6.

Fixtures for tonight (kick-off 6pm) - Premier Division: Rishton v Old Toll Bar.

Second Division: Blackburn YMCA v Bangor OB; Witton Albion v Langho (p1); Pleasington v Railway Hotel (p5).

Third Division: Cupal v Darwen Subs (p2); Worth Avenue v Alex Hotel Res (p3); Pleasington Res v New Gardeners (p4).

Fourth Division: Brinscall v Rishton C; Crown Berger Res v St Matthew's Res; Grimshaw Park v Pleasington C (p7); Railway Hotel Darwen v Centurions B (p8).

Fixtures for Thursday, April 22 (kick-off 6pm) - Birtwistle Cup Final: Ewood Amateurs v Griffin Celtic (Anchor, Darwen).

Premier Division: St Mary's COB v Whitehall Top Con; West End CYC v Crown Wallcoverings (p1). Second Division: Rishton Res v Centurions; Blackburn YMCA v Clarence; Witton Albion v Railway Hotel (p3).

Third Division: Darwen Subs v Blackburn YMCA Res (p2).

Fixtures for Saturday April 24, kick off 2.15pm - Premier Division: Rishton v Crown Wallcoverings; St Mary's COB v Crown Berger; West End CYC v Whitehall Top Con (p1).

Second Division: Rishton Res v Witton Albion; St Matthew's v Blackburn YMCA (p2); Langho v Railway Hotel; Ivy Hotel v Clarence (p4); Blackburn Utd v Centurions (p5).

Third Division: Alex Hotel Res v New Gardeners (p3); Blackburn YM Res v Cupal.

Dates and venues of cup finals - Birtwistle Cup: Ewood Ams v Griffin Celtic - Thursday April 22 (kick-off 6pm).

Eddleston Cup: Railway Hotel v Centurions - Thursday, April 29 (kick-off 6pm).

Cotton Cup: New Gardeners v Worth Avenue - Tuesday, May 11 (kick-off 6.30pm).

Livesey Cup: Shaws of Darwen v Printers - Tuesday, May 18 (kick-off 6.30pm).

Blackburn Sports Council Cup: Teams not yet known - Wednesday, May 19 (kick-off 6.30pm).

All cup finals are to be played at the Anchor Ground, Darwen, by courtesy of Darwen FC.

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