WE are just past the halfway mark in the Bolton League season and apart from the shocking weather we've all had to endure, hopefully the season will finish with a thunderous bang.

At the moment it does look like a four-horse race with Farnworth Social Circle the favourites. But as we all know, anything can happen.

Walkden and Kearsley are currently in fine form and Social Circle still have to play Farnworth and Horwich later in the season – these games may be pivotal either way.

The Hamer Cup final has thrown up a fantastic fixture between Social Circle and Walkden at Astley Bridge on Sunday, August 14.

I expect that one to be a banter-full, hard-fought, exciting and high-scoring affair providing the weather is good to them.

Good luck to all involved, I'm sure Astley Bridge will put on a great show.

The Lancashire Knockout is also at its latter stages and my club Farnworth have just about dodged the weather and a bowl-out to reach the quarter-final stage where we play Read from the Ribblesdale League at home on Sunday at 1pm.

The winners of this game will take on either Monton or Bury in the semi-final with the final taking place at every amateur cricketer's dream venue, Emirates Old Trafford on Sunday, September 11.

Fingers crossed we manage to get there because back in 2012 we unfortunately missed out due to the redevelopment of Old Trafford and we played the final at St Anne's Cricket Club.

Now looking forward to 2017 it seems the league will have to make certain changes to the fixtures because of the decrease in teams once the league splits to two divisions of 10 to bring in promotion and relegation.

At the moment it seems there will be 18 league games plus cup matches – a 30 per cent reduction in games compared to previous years.

Now I haven't got a crystal ball, or know what the proposals will be, but I'm pretty sure that more cricket needs to be played in order for clubs to bring in much-needed revenue, whether that would mean the introduction of more cup games or even a mid-season Twenty20 tournament.

The league meeting takes place on Monday and I'm sure there will be some interesting suggestions.

Not only are the actual cups and games available for each team a talking point, but I think certain criteria needs to be met with regards to facilities and clubs' equipment, especially in the top division where professionals may be mandatory.

The investment and efforts of club committees/owners and volunteers needs to be backed by trying to actually play cricket at some point.

You may recall my previous column bleating on about efforts made – or not, in certain cases – by opposition clubs. I've heard too many times this year that the away team has had to grasp the nettle and mop up at away grounds.

Surely the home side has an obligation to try everything they can to #getthegameon, not simply put their feet up and perform a rain dance.

That's what we all actually set aside eight hours of our busy lives every Saturday and Sunday for.

I have made a recommendation for the officials to enforce this, whether something changes or not remains to be seen, but nevertheless a huge talking point around local cricket, not just in the Bolton League.

This weekend's fixtures

Tonight

Dixon Air Conditioning Twenty20 final: Kearsley v Westhoughton (6.15pm).

Tomorrow

Bolton League

Adlington v Daisy Hill, Astley Bridge v Farnworth Social Circle, Darcy Lever v Little Lever, Eagley v Blackrod, Farnworth v Lostock, Golborne v Westhoughton, Heaton v Walkden, Little Hulton v Horwich RMI, Standish v Bradshaw, Tonge v Atherton.

Sunday

Lancashire Knockout quarter-final (1pm): Farnworth v Read.