ELEVEN teams will be battling for a place in the last-eight of the Peter Stafford Trophy in tomorrow’s final round of group games.

The winners of all five groups will qualify for the quarter-finals in July, along with the three runners-up with the most points.

Horwich, Bradshaw, Westhoughton, Walkden and Kearsley have already earned sufficient points to qualify, and Darcy Lever, Astley Bridge, Lostock and Golborne cannot qualify.

All the remaining teams have a chance depending on the results on the final day. It is possible a team with 12 points may not qualify automatically, but it is also possible a team with seven could, and play-offs may be necessary. The second-team situation is equally complex, with only Heaton and Bradshaw guaranteed to qualify, and Golborne, Daisy Hill and Tonge unable to.

The introduction of CricHQ https://www.crichq.com/organisations/907/competitions/current which gives live coverage of matches will be of particular interest this weekend as clubs follow the progress of their rivals, and ascertain how many points they will need as the matches progress.

Bonus points may become particularly important in matches such as in the first-team game between Farnworth and Little Hulton where the home side require a victory and a bonus point to overtake their opponents, while hoping Little Lever lose to Kearsley.

The introduction to electronic scoring appears to have been a great success, thank to the efforts of the Bolton League technology team, although few could have anticipated the brief delay due to one scorer’s tablet overheating in the sun last Sunday!

Up to June 30 deadline for the movement of clubs, I will try to give a progress report on who will be playing where in 2018. The loss of five of Manchester’s top clubs, Littleborough, Middleton, Norden, Rochdale and Walsden to the Lancashire League is almost certain to result in the demise of the Pennine League formed only last year comprised mainly of clubs from Oldham and Rochdale, playing previously in the Central Lancashire and Saddleworth leagues.

Other clubs may wish to follow, or alternatively may consider the Greater Manchester, Bolton or Huddersfield Leagues.

The majority of clubs on the Pennine side of Oldham are likely to opt for the Greater Manchester League, which will draw the centre of the league more towards the East of the County.

With the additional five clubs, the Lancashire League will have 22 in 2018, and recently extended the deadline for applications, hoping for two leagues of 12. They will then consider taking the Ribblesdale League as a third division, subject to the support of the existing clubs.

The Bolton League have reached an agreement with Heineken for the sponsorship of the Hamer Cup for this season.

Apart from the sponsorship which will benefit the League as a whole, there will be additional benefits for individual clubs selling a number of Heineken’s products.