VETERAN Mick McHugh makes his debut for the East Lancs team to play the Fylde on Sunday in the second leg of the Gascon Trophy.

East Lancs won the first leg at Clitheroe Royal British Legion easily but the Coast side will be a lot stronger this time round.

Mick, 63, who plays for Cherry Tree in the Blackburn with Darwen League, says modestly: "There are better players than me around. Some in my own team." But as team manager Brian Sims explained: "The Blackpool lot are very cunning; they don't give an inch. And a player of Mick's experience is just what we want." Mick has played for several of the top teams in both Darwen and Blackburn over the years on both the big and small tables. He's been in top form for Cherry Tree recently.

The last two places in the squad were up for grabs at the weekend and Chris Brotherton and Dave Stephens of the West View (Blackburn) snapped them up after top performances in their side's 4-3 win away to Clitheroe Legion in the county championship.

The second leg match is at the Falcon Hotel at Poulton-le-Fylde on Sunday. The match will start around 12.45 and is over 15 frames. The first leg raised £200 for Pendlebury Children's Hospital and proceeds from this match will also be sent there.

Several regulars will be missing from the East Lancs side, among them Pete "Sprog" Mercer and Marc Holmes from Clitheroe, Chris Catlow (Pendle) and Mark Jennings (BwD), and Sims reckons his lads will have a tough fight on their hands..

Team: Gaz Hampson, Andy Maudsley, Ian Dickinson, Ian Harle, Adie Dugdale, Mick McHugh, Chris Brotherton, Dave Stephens (Blackburn with Darwen); Stephen Kerr, John Gibson, Chris Lawson (Clitheroe); Russell Large (Captain), Tony Arnott, Simon McKenna, Andy Dibb (Pendle) Reserve: Ian McTavish (Blackburn with Darwen).