EUXTON captain Louis Sweeney is hoping his side can finish a solid season with a promotion push.
The Balshaw Park club are fourth in Section B with eight games of the summer to go.
Sweeney has been pleased with what he’s seen in 2019 but knows there is still a coveted spot in the top two up for grabs, Euxton 18 points behind second-placed Earby ahead of this weekend’s games.
Next up is a trip to Baxenden tomorrow with the side second from bottom having been 73-run winners in their earlier league meeting at the end of June.
“We’ve been going along quite well,” said the skipper.
“There’s been a couple of games that we’ve lost that we know we should have won but we’ve got a lot of young lads.
“I’m quite happy with things, a couple of results aside.
“We’re about where we expected to be. Things could have been a bit better but I’m reasonably happy.
“We’re fourth in Section B and about 20 points off second.
“We need a couple of results starting this weekend and hopefully we can put in a good performance.
“We lost against them earlier in the season and want to put it right.
“Baroldswick look like they are clear at the top but I’m sure we can push to finish second or third.
“We still in there with something to play for.”
Sweeney is leading a side that has an inexperienced core with a smattering of senior players.
Several teenagers have featured on a regular basis with more set to be involved against Baxenden.
While form has been up and down, the Euxton skipper believes the amount of youngsters involved bodes well for the future of the Chorley club.
“We’ve been a bit inconsistent at times but that happens when you have a lot of young lads in the side,” said Sweeney.
“We’ve been fielding four or five under-19s and with a couple unavailable this weekend that will be more like six.
“It looks like there is a strong age group coming through but in senior cricket that inexperience shows sometimes.
“Every now and then we play a bit of cricket that you wouldn’t with more experienced guys in the team.”
Away from league action, Euxton also enjoyed a run to the quarter-finals of the Ribblesdale League’s Twenty20 competition.
They came up short in the last eight against Read, missing out on a spot in finals days.
Sweeney’s men were bowled out for 79 at Whalley Road before the hosts knocked off the runs without losing a wicket in a little more than seven overs.
“We did well in the T20 and won a few games,” he said.
“We lost to Read but I think they are as good a side as you can face in the Ribblesdale League, especially with Matt Walker playing so well for them as an amateur player.”
Ribblesdale League fixtures
Tomorrow, 1.30pm: Barnoldswick v Earby, Baxenden v Euxton, Brinscall v Oswaldtwistle Emmanuel, Padiham v Settle, Ribblesdale Wanderers v Cherry Tree, Salesbury v Read, Whalley v Feniscowles
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