HOLDERS Church get the defence of their Lancashire League T20 campaign up and running with a repeat of last year’s final at home to Lowerhouse tonight.

Both sides have been drawn in the Pride of Pendle group and the fixture is the stand out match on the opening night of action.

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Lowerhouse won the competition in 2013 and will be keen to exact revenge on a Church side who beat them by 14-runs in last season’s final.

The competition sees two groups of seven with the top two progressing into the semi-finals.

Both of last season’s losing semi-finalists are also in the Pride of Pendle Group.

Nelson, who lost to Lowerhouse in 2014, begin their campaign with a trip to Bacup while Haslingden, who lost out to the champions last season, host Colne.

The other side in that group, Lancashire League leaders Burnley, are without a game in the opening round of fixtures.

In the Blond Witch group Ramsbottom, three times winners between 2010-12, host 2008 winners East Lancs at Acre Bottom.

Elsewhere, Rawtenstall are on the road at Rishton while Todmorden entertain Enfield.

Accrington make up that group and they are without a fixture tonight.

Tonight’s action is the start of nine successive Friday night’s of T20 action with the semi-finals taking place on July 17 following the conclu-sion of the group phase, before the final on July 24.