TOM Stanwix is happy for Hawcoat Park to keep taking games down to the wire – provided his side manage to get over the line, of course.

After winning promotion last year, Hawcoat’s North Lancashire and Cumbria League Division One campaign has seen them involved in several close games, none more so than their one-wicket victory in the Marsden Cup quarter- finals at home to Cockermouth A.

It was tail-ender Harrison O’Brien’s 25 not out which helped see them past the target after the visitors had closed on 207 for 6, setting up a semi-final showdown with Vickerstown on July 7 and avenging a loss in similar circumstances the previous weekend.

“We looked like we were going to lose it at one point, so it was good to get over the line,” said Hawcoat captain Stanwix. “Harrison dug us out in the end.

“The week before, we’d played Cockermouth away (in the league) and we’d been on the other side of it.

“It looked like we were going to win and then they got over the line, so it was good to get one back on them.

“Vickerstown are top of the league at the minute, but we beat them earlier in the season so we should be able to give it a go.”

Stanwix is eager to add some more silverware to the trophy cabinet at Hawcoat Park after helping the football club’s A-team win this year’s Furness Junior Cup with a man-of-the-match display in the final against Millom reserves.

Lifting the Marsden Cup would mean him clinching a trophy in his first year as captain of the cricket team too, and it is a role he has quickly settled into.

“At my old cricket team, I’d been captain for odd games, but it’s something I enjoy,” said Stanwix. “I like have a bit of an influence on the game.

“It’s been enjoyable; even the games we’ve lost, it’s not like we’ve been out-played. With moving up a league, we thought it might be tough, but every game we’ve had we’ve been in the game.

“They’ve been really good games and that’s why you get into it. You don’t want to be turning up and getting thrashed or thrashing the other team, you want to have a close game.”

Tomorrow sees Hawcoat host Barrow A in a Division One derby, with key men Callum Muncaster and Callum Lucas set to return to action for the home side after missing the cup match with Cockermouth.

Meanwhile, there is a clash of two near-neighbours in the Premier Division when Millom host winless Haverigg.

How the Poolsiders would love to break their league duck for the season by beating their old close rivals.

Elsewhere, Lindal Moor host Keswick and Dalton and Furness are both on the road at Carlisle and Whitehaven respectively, while Barrow’s senior team host second-placed St Annes in the Northern Premier League.

There is a massive game in store for Lindal Moor on Sunday, as they host Broadbottom in the Cricketer Village Cup.

Ed Waind’s side know victory will see them just three games away from an historic return to Lord’s – venue of one of the club’s finest hours when they contested the final of the same competition back in 1977.

Although they lost to Worcestershire side Cookley that day, it is an occasion that has lived long in the hearts and minds of everyone associated with the Pennington Lane club.

While struggling for form in the North Lancs League, Lindal have been on fire in the Village Cup and won their recent regional final at Read by emphatically by seven wickets

Local cricket fans are encouraged to support Lindal in Sunday’s last-32 tie.

England’s World Cup match against Panama will be being shown on a big screen TV in the clubhouse and there will be a barbecue and hog roast.