HORWICH captain David White is praying he will not jinx his team-mates from the sidelines as they take on Heaton away in the Thwaites Hamer Cup semi-final tomorrow.

The postman has failed to deliver the title in six previous finals – four with Horwich and two with Kearsley.

His most recent final disappointment came against Farnworth last year.

But the experienced batsman is currently out with a slipped disc and struggling to be fit for a second showpiece match in as many years, if the Recreation Ground men can get past Heaton.

“I am the club jinx, it’s as simple as that,” he said.

“I don’t like to talk about it to be honest as it gets me wound up.

“The lads will probably win everything in sight as soon as I retire, but I still haven’t given up hope of playing in this year’s competition.

“I am about two to three weeks away from being fit enough to play, so hopefully I can get back in time for the final if we make it.”

With current league leaders Farnworth Social Circle entertaining current champions Little Lever in the other semi-final, White knows Horwich have their work cut out to break his duck.

He is also wary that victory at third-bottom Heaton – the lowest ranked team left in the competition – is not a foregone conclusion.

“We have played well this year,” said White, with Horwich riding high in fifth place.

“But anything can happen in a one-off game so the lads will have to be at their best to get through.”

While Horwich made the final last season, their recent record in the competition is poor, with the last of their four titles coming in 1955.

None of the four teams left in the competition have a proud Hamer Cup history.

Heaton’s third and final victory came in 1951, while in the other match, Little Lever last triumphed in 1972 and current league leaders Farnworth Social Circle’s one and only title came in their only ever final appearance in 1988.