BOTTOM two Bacup and Colne look to forget their Lancashire League strife today as they collide in a huge Worsley Cup semi-final – with both sides looking for big displays from their professionals.

Bacup’s Michael Smith and Colne’s Anwar Ali are among the top two paid men in the league and most eyes will be on their displays.

But upbeat Bacup skipper Tim Farragher believes both side’s amateurs could play their part in front of an expectant and excitable Lanehead crowd.

“It’s the best bowler in the league in Anwar against the best bat in Michael,” said Faragher. “But there are some good amateurs on both sides and I think it will be a good game.

“We are both down at the wrong end of the table and we don’t want to be down there but we have been different in the cup and that has been the same for Colne.

“I don’t know if it is because there is less pressure on in the cup but we have had two good wins to get to the semi.”

The Worsley Cup has restrictions on bowlers with no-one allowed to bowl more than 10 – and Farragher believes Bacup’s less than perfect league form could help them in the cup.

“It’s strange,” he said. “We are not doing well we are using five or six bowlers most weeks.

“So when it comes to the Worsley Cup, they are used to having the ball thrown at them to send down a few overs.

“We don’t rely on anyone to bowl 25 from one end in the league and that can work to our advantage.”

Bacup last lifted the Worsley Cup in 1993 while Colne’s last win was in 1999.

And Horsfield skipper Matt Wilson is licking his lips in anticipation.

“We are looking forward to it and it is a big, big game,” said Wilson.

“We are bottom and Bacup are second from bottom and while I know the table doesn’t lie I don’t think either of us should be down there. But we are and the cup is a nice diversion.

“Bacup are a very good side. Their pro Michael Smith is a good player and Paul Gallagher is in great nick at the moment. Their captain Tim Farragher is a good player and we know it will be tough up there.”

Wilson added: “We have not had the luck in the league. Anwar has had a lot of inside edges and a few decisions and key moments have gone against us and when that happens we have to try and pick up the younger lads.

“We have had two good wins in the cup against East Lancs and Accrington and hopefully we can see off Bacup now.”

The other semi-final pits cup holders Ramsbottom against Burnley at Acre Bottom.

That game sees two South African’s battle as Rammy paid man Francois du Plessis against his Titans team-mate, Burnley’s Farhaan Behardien.

Ramsbottom have something of a stranglehold on the cup in recent years and tomorrow is their sixth semi-final since 2000 and they have four final wins since the turn of the century.

Burnley have not won the trophy since 1984 but go into the game in confident mood after beating Ramsbottom in the league last month.

l It is also a big day for the second teams as the Lancashire Telegraph Cup reaches its semi-finals stage with two exciting clashes in prospect.

In-form East Lancs welcome Bacup to Alexandra Meadows, while Enfield play Junior League leaders Church at Dill Hall Lane in the other semi-final.