HORWICH RMI skipper David Morris is enjoying watching a youthful side develop this season at the Recreation Ground.

With five teenagers in the line-up, Morris concedes this season is about progression for a team that finished fourth in the league last season.

But the man who made a summer switch from Egerton to take over the captaincy says it is a good challenge and is realistic about the hopes for the campaign.

They currently sit ninth with as many wins as defeats so far.

Morris admits chances of the title are unlikely but the team are still in the Hamer Cup – with a tie against Westhoughton a week on Sunday up next – and the hope is to keep developing the young talent at the club.

That includes Lancashire women's star Nalisha Patel who made her first-team debut in last weekend's defeat against Eagley.

Morris told The Bolton News: "It is a good challenge this season and one I am enjoying with this group.

"Captaining a young side that includes many players I have coached for the last four years is very satisfying, seeing their progression.

"When you consider we have five around the age of 18 in the side, we always knew this season would be about development and looking to get better with each game.

"We have a nucleus of some older players but the majority are younger.

"Being realistic, the title was not our main thought this year – our aim is to try and win more than we lost with this young side."

Alongside Patel, four others making a name for themselves at Horwich are Tom Billington, Lewis Haydock, Mukhtar Nisar and Morris's son Matthew.

Patel has naturally hit the headlines recently as the first female first-teamer for the club and Morris says the 17-year-old is in the side on merit.

He said: "Nalisha is in there out of right – nothing else.

"She is in on merit after some good displays and she has also done well for Lancashire.

"She has an exemplary attitude and deserves to do well."

The youthful team face a tricky double-header this weekend at Egerton tomorrow before hosting second-placed Farnworth 24 hours later.

But professional Babar Naeem has impressed with both bat and ball and he has been ably supported by close-season signing from Little Lever, Rakeeb Mahmood who has also weighed in with wickets.

Morris added: "These are two tough games this weekend but we have players who can do well like Babar who began the season with a superb run of batting.

"If we can perform like we can and the likes of Farnworth have an off day, we can get a result."