BARNOLDSWICK can look forward to a quarter-final showdown in the LCB Lancashire Cup – and when they face off with Heywood Biwater on August 11 they will be in the presence of greatness.
Luke Hodgson’s depleted Victory Park outfit turned in an outstanding display to beat Egerton on Sunday.
And now they can look forward to a home last-eight clash with Heywood next month and that game will be played out on one of the biggest days of the year in West Craven.
The annual Ride with Brad cycle event takes place in the town on the same day – and just as the players are about to start their game, the serious cyclists, led by Olympian and last year’s Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins, will be scorching towards the finish line a few yards away from the boundary edge.
“It will make for a busy day for sure,” said Barnoldswick chairman Graham Whipp.
“But if it’s a nice day people will be able to come to the cricket and also watch Bradley riding by the entrance to the ground.”
Barlick’s route to the last eight has been a tough one, but one that reminds Whipp of their run to Old Trafford and the final in the mid-1970s.
He was captain of that side beaten narrowly by Blackpool and remembered: “In the first game we won on a faster scoring rate after both sides were bowled out – and this year it was a bowl out.
“In the game at Kearsley back then professional Bernard Reidy was called up for Lancashire but was then only 12th man so he raced to the game.
“I don’t think that endeared Bernard to his employers.
“This weekend we didn’t have a professional at all as Imran Khalid is back in Pakistan playing for his state so maybe the portents are good for the quarter-final.
“There is a long way to go yet to even think about winning it but we are looking forward to the game and hoping we can carry on this run.”
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