Lancashire League: Anthony relishes a title tilt! (5 Sep 1997)

5 September 1997

Lancashire League: Anthony relishes a title tilt!

Lancashire Evening Telegraph

WHIRLWIND Hamish Anthony wants to deliver the EW Cartons Lancashire League title to Bentgate - and clinch a glorious double for Haslingden.

The West Indian substitute professional plays his final game for Haslingden tomorrow before flying back to the sunshine of Antigua and the Red Stripe tournament 24 hours later.

And with Haslingden so close to the finishing tape and the club's first ever league and cup double, Anthony, who aims to break into the Windies team to face England in the Caribbean this winter, said: "When Haslingden asked me to be their substitute professional tomorrow I was more than pleased.

"I couldn't have made the Sunday fixture because I would be on the flight back home.

"That is why it is so special to be involved for Haslingden tomorrow in such an important match.

"I want to help the team to a big result against Church and, hopefully, the championship. That would be the ideal leaving present."

The title celebrations could be in full swing if Haslingden secure a five point win over struggling Church and Lowerhouse slip up at home to Rawtenstall.

That would put them out of reach of all their main challengers - Enfield, East Lancs and Lowerhouse.

East Lancs simply know they must win at Accrington while Enfield have a tricky assignment against 1996 champions Rishton at Blackburn Road.

Haslingden, of course, will be hoping for a repeat performance from Anthony after he snapped up formidable eight for 35 in the six wicket win over Burnley last weekend.

"Hamish did us proud on Sunday and he is definitely the best substitute professional we've had since Brad (McNamara) went back to Australia," observed skipper Mark Griffin. "He helped us to the Worsley Cup Final success and it is nice he is involved tomorrow. If we can win that would leave Lowerhouse needing a five points double to catch us. That would be really put the pressure on them.

"We are all hoping it will be all over tomorrow because I think everybody has felt the pressure since we won the Worsley Cup."

Griffin, though, accepts the crunch could arrive on Sunday when Haslingden travel to Enfield - if the champions-elect slip up against Church.

"That is our safety cushion if we make a mess of the game against Church," he added.

"But we do not want to think about Enfield because we know how dangerous a professional Shane Lee is.

"He is due a big knock and we do not want it be against us."

Ramsbottom are hoping to secure Lancashire's opening batsman Jason Gallian as their sub professional for both fixtures this weekend.

Tomorrow's fixtures: Accrington v East Lancs, Bacup v Colne, Haslingden v Church, Lowerhouse v Rawtenstall, Nelson v Ramsbottom, Rishton v Enfield, Todmorden v Burnley.

Source :: Lancashire Evening Telegraph (https://www.reednews.co.uk/let/)