PRESERVING an unbeaten record and winning a place in the latter stages of a prestigious national competition are the prizes at stake for Furness CC this weekend.

The North Lancs and Cumbria League side take on Ormskirk in the Royal London National Club Championship on Sunday.

With both teams undefeated this season and aiming for a place in the last 16, it promises to be a cracking match. Entering the knockout competition for the first time this year, the Rams have made great progress in beating Lancaster, Longridge and Chorley so far.

Ormskirk are likely to provide their toughest test yet. The Liverpool and District Competition Premier League high-fliers have pedigree in the tournament, having reached the semi-finals last year.

But with home advantage and a big crowd at Furness Park, Scott Pearcey’s side have a good chance of progressing.

It is an amateurs-only competition, so Furness will go into battle without their New Zealand professional pro Seth Rance, but with the likes of past and present county players Mark Daly, Pete Lawson, Nathan Waterston and Sam Dutton among their ranks, they have the ability to do the job.

“We have had a fantastic start to the season, going unbeaten so far,” said skipper Pearcey, whose side lie second in the North Lancs Premier Division behind reigning champions Workington.

“We have had a good run in the National Cup beating Chorley at home in a hard-fought game, and two convincing wins at Lancaster and Longridge.

“It is a cup that is new to us and we are just enjoying it, giving it a real go, and we’ll see where we end up.

“It is a different type of game with no professional to rely on, but other guys are stepping up, which is great to see. Ormskirk will be another step-up for us. They have been successful in this competition in the past so we will have to be at our best to win, but we are always confident playing at Furness.”

Pearcey’s men must first concentrate first on continuing their pursuit of the league title.

Furness won at title rivals Workington at the start of the month to replace them at the top, but a washed-out match a fortnight ago, when they rivals managed to get a game in and win, means they trail the West Cumbrians again.

Furness head to Cockermouth tomorrow, while Workington are at Wigton.

The Premier Division is already looking like a two-horse race, and it will probably come down to who performs best when Furness play Workington at home next month and away on the final day of the season.

Elsewhere, Dalton will look to build on their first Premier Division win of the season over Cockermouth last week, when they host Cleator.

Millom have hit real form of late, rising to joint-top in Division One and reaching the final of the Sowerby Cup, where they will take on their neighbours Haverigg in what will be a fantastic occasion for the old rivals.