FARNWORTH may be about to relinquish their Premiership crown to champions-elect Walkden, but it can still be a hugely successful season for the club.

Not only are they in the semi-finals of the Hamer Cup and the quarter-finals of the Peter Stafford Trophy, they are also well placed to secure Lancashire Knockout qualification after Saturday’s league win at Atherton.

A rain-affected 33-run win on Duckworth-Lewis hoisted them into the top four places with six matches to play, although it is not yet 100 per cent clear whether the top four or five places from the Premiership will qualify for next season’s LKO given ongoing discussions regarding restructuring.

Saturday’s win was secured without the services of captain Simon Booth, who was attending a wedding, with Jon Kerrigan deputising as Farnworth made 227-7 from 46.1 overs before rain arrived.

Hosts Atherton were set an initial target of 240 from 46 and later 222 from 40, which they never threatened and finished on 188-9, holding on for a bonus point.

Imran Mirza top-scored with 86 and Leighton Friend added 63. With the ball, professional Noman Ali returned figures of 4-58 from 14 overs.

“Atherton lost wickets on a regular basis, and the match petered out,” said Phil Andrews, Farnworth’s secretary and first-team scorer.

“Mirza played fantastically well.

“He’s struggled over the last four or five weeks while carrying a back injury. It was nice to see him in the runs, and the pro bowled well.

“From the league point of view, that’s only going in one direction – to Walkden.

“They wiped the floor with us at their place a few weeks ago and have a very strong bowling line-up. Stick Alex Roberts in there as well. If you don't get him early, he’s going to hurt you with the bat.

“Qualifying for the Lancashire Knockout is a big aim for us.

“We wanted seven points, but six keeps us up there in that tight group realistically chasing third and fourth place.

“Next week will be a big test to see how we’ve progressed as the season’s gone because we play Horwich away.

“Last season was my first full season scoring for Farnworth having been at Daisy Hill previously.

“Farnworth is my boyhood club. I learnt to score here and played junior cricket here in the late seventies and early eighties. To come back here was a no brainer.

“Last year, we won the T20 and the league, and the seconds won the Birtwistle. It was a very successful season. But you can’t expect to do that every year.

“From my point of view, I’d love to see us win the Hamer Cup because we’ll have won all three of the main trophies in two seasons, and the Peter Stafford would complete the full set. That wouldn’t be bad going.”

Farnworth host Bradshaw in Sunday’s Hamer Cup semi-finals, while a home quarter in the Peter Stafford is in the offing having topped their group courtesy of Eagley conceding yesterday’s final round-robin tie.