DARWEN skipper Jordan Clark believes his side can bounce back from the disappointment of defeat last time out as they prepare for a crucial weekend in the Northern League season.

It all starts with a must-win Twenty20 derby clash at Chorley tonight with the Towers knowing any other result will see them knocked out in the group stages following an opening loss to Leyland.

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Darwen, beaten by Netherfield last weekend in the league, then host Penrith at Birch Hall before taking on St Annes on Sunday as they seek to reignite their title charge.

And Clark sees no reason why the side can’t be reflecting on three wins out of three come Sunday night.

He said: “We have already played Chorley once this season and beaten them but they seem to be right in form at the moment so it will be a tough game.

“We know we need to win, we are still in the hunt in the T20 and obviously we’ll be trying our best to get the right result.”

Defeat for Darwen will see them knocked out and leave Chorley battling it out with Leyland for a place in the last four.

Should Darwen win and then Chorley beat Leyland, all three sides would be level on two points and the group winner, who will face Blackpool in the semi-finals, would be decided by net run rate.

Meanwhile, both East Lancashire sides are impressing in the league and Clark, whose side are currently fourth in the table, maintains Darwen are right in the mix for the title this season.

Morecambe currently head the table with 128 points but with Chorley now up to second, just five points separate the next four teams in a tightly-congested chasing pack.

Victory over Penrith will certainly go a long way to helping Darwen climb the table.

And Clark is confident.

He said: “After Saturday we will be exactly halfway through the season so we know where will stand.

“But Penrith are a good side and we know it will be a tough game.

“There’s a few good sides at the top and we think we can challenge.”

Chorley also have a double header in the league this weekend following the T20 clash and two wins from two could well take Andy Houldsworth’s side to the top of the table.

They visit Fleetwood tomorrow before making the trip to Leyland on Sunday.

  • Chorley travel to Lancaster in the last eight of the Readers Cup following victory over Penrith. Darwen, who had a first round bye, travel to Kendal. The ties will be played on July 19.