FOUR clubs are in contention for the Bolton League runners-up spot as the penultimate round of matches take place tomorrow.

With runaway leaders Greenmount crowned champions last week, competition will be stiff between Walkden, Horwich, Farnworth Social Circle and last season’s winners Farnworth to finish second.

Currently secondplaced Walkden go to Westhoughton, and, with captain and pro Usman Tariq in amazing form with the bat, having notched three consecutive hundreds up to last weekend, they must be favourites to consolidate their position.

However, they have the distraction of the Lancashire Knockout final at Old Trafford on Sunday to contend with, and an upset against mid-table Westhoughton, who themselves are competing for qualification for next season’s Lancashire KO, is a strong possibility.

But Walkden secretary Dave Smith is adamant his men will be pushing all the way for a win at the St George’s Oval.

“We are disappointed that the title has gone,” he said. “But we want to finish as high up the table as possible.

“Regardless of the Lancashire KO final, that is our objective for the rest of the season.”

Meanwhile, thirdplaced Horwich travel to Little Lever, where long-serving Recreation Ground man Grant Long will reach the 20,000 career runs milestone if he scores 28 or more.

But the modest South African is shrugging off any thoughts of the feat.

“If I don’t get them this week, I’ll get them another time,”

he said. “I’m more concerned with what happens to the team.

It’s not something I’m thinking about or aiming for, although people keep reminding me.”

Below Horwich, Circle go to Bradshaw and Farnworth entertain Heaton, all within reach of leapfrogging Walkden, should they slip up.

Tomorrow: Westhoughton v Walkden, Bradshaw v Farnworth SC, Astley Bridge v Egerton, Eagley v Kearsley, Little Lever v Horwich, Farnworth v Heaton, Tonge v Greenmount.

Sunday: Lancashire KO final: Greenmount v Walkden (at Old Trafford).