Westhoughton progressed to the second round of the Lancashire Knockout competition after a dramatic bowl off on Sunday at Saddleworth.

With rain wiping out any chance of play in the tie, it went straight to the bowl off to decide who would go through.

And it was an epic battle that went to the 15th attempt at the stumps with the Bolton League side’s professional, Qaiser Abbas, proving the matchwinner as the St George’s Oval outfit won 1-0.

Westhoughton scorer Seb Miller said officials on the day were even studying the rule book after it remained 0-0 in the bowl off after 11 attempts for each side.

He said: “I don’t think they had ever seen a bowl off go on for so long and I think they were wondering what happens when it gets to 11 attempts and no-one had been successful.

“We carried on and it was our pro Qaiser who finally made the breakthrough.”

Westhoughton go on to face Lowerhouse CC from Burnley in the next round.

Another league side, Farnworth, also had a bowl off on Sunday to decide their National Knockout tie at Prestwich but they ended up on the wrong end of a 4-2 scoreline.

Prestwich progressed and will now face Farnworth Social Circle, who beat Clifton at the same stage, in the Group Five semi-final.