IS the Lancashire League crown heading back to Blackburn Road?

Not if gifted Queenslander Shawn Flegler has anything to do with it.

While the bookies appear to have written Lowerhouse off, installing Rishton as the white-hot title favourites, Lowerhouse are all out for a taste of rapid revenge tomorrow.

Flegler's team just cannot afford another defeat at the hands of Allan Donald's team if they are to harbour any realistic hopes of a first ever championship success.

"We played really poorly at Rishton and that result was our biggest disappointment of the season," said Flegler.

"We just did not do ourselves justice. Our all-round game was poor and that's why tomorrow is so important because we are desperate to get ourselves back on track.

"If we can post a half-decent score and then put pressure on Rishton with our bowling, which I think we could do, then we have a great chance.

"Our main aim is to stop Rishton from winning tomorrow. We must make sure that they do not get away at the top of the table. That is vital."

Flegler is quick to dismiss talk of another mid-season breakdown - despite a crushing seven-wicket defeat at Rishton - where they offered only token resistance in the form of a gutsy 60 from Chris Bleazard.

But are Lowerhouse running out of steam after proving they have the strength but perhaps not the depth to challenge the Lancashire League top dogs?

"Obviously people talk about titles and winning things at Lowerhouse, but the main thing from my point of view is that we've made a big improvement at the club," explained Flegler.

"My aim, first and foremost when I arrived at Lowerhouse in 1995, was to try and make this a stronger cricket club.

"That was a big challenge for me and was one of the main reasons why I came to Lowerhouse. To a certain extent we have achieved quite a lot."

Flegler proved a big hit last season, securing seventh place in the league batting averages with 962 runs to his name. Flegler's distinguished average of 45 saw only four Lancashire League players outscore him.

"At the start of this season we said that we wanted to win more games than we lost and to try and improve on sixth position in the table," added Flegler.

"If we can sustain that improvement it would have been another good season for Lowerhouse.

"There is a lot of ability at Lowerhouse and a really positive attitude running through the club. Lowerhouse used to be the pushovers of the Lancashire League - we're not anymore."

Todmorden, in fourth spot, will be anxious to get their championship challenge back on track against Church after last weekend's narrow defeat at Blackburn Road.

Church professional Matthew Mott did the damage with a blistering 120 not out and he will be hoping for a repeat performance at Centre Vale.

Haslingden, beaten at Bacup on their last outing, will be hoping for a quick revenge mission, while at the foot of the table Accrington will be searching for only their second win of the season against Nelson at Thorneyholme Road.

Fixtures: Accrington v Nelson, Colne v Enfield, East Lancs v Burnley, Haslingden v Bacup, Lowerhouse v Rishton, Rawtenstall v Ramsbottom, Todmorden v Church.

Latest odds for Lancashire League. 6-4 Rishton, 10-3 Ramsbottom, 4-1 Lowerhouse, 8-1 Todmorden, 9-1 Haslingden, 10-1 East Lancs, 12-1 Bacup, Enfield, 25-1 Colne, 40-1 Church, 50-1 Burnley, 100-1 Nelson.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.