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FARNWORTH Social Circle believe they have the ammunition to push champions Walkden all the way this season.

Captain Matt Parkinson says he will be disappointed if his side do not win the title with the team he has at his disposal.

"We bat further down than anybody else," he said. "We also have a good bowling line-up so I can't see why we can't push Walkden all the way. They have set the benchmark in recent years and it is up to us to get that consistency.

"I firmly believe the competition will be much closer this season."

Rivals Farnworth also fancy their chances after putting behind them the dispute that marred the end of last season when professional Brenton Parchment was banned.

New skipper Lee Childs believes his side can be a real force.

"With the players we have got we feel we are the ones to watch," he said.

"Batting is our strength but we have variety in our bowling."

Westhoughton skipper Steve Parker is confident that the arrival of West Indian Test star Dwayne Parker will be the catalyst for a resurgence at the Tyldesleys.

The club had signed Sulieman Benn, but the deal fell through after he was called up for the West Indies, which paved the way for the return to Westhoughton of Smith, who was their pro in 2003 when he scored 950 runs and took 57 wickets.

"He has fallen out of favour but someone who has played 70 one day internationals and 10 Tests is a huge bonus for us," said Parker, who has taken back the reins from Adam Coates. "He is one of the best fielders in the world and is still only 25. His return will hopefully see some fans come back."

This could be Westhoughton's final season before they switch to a new ground, although the moving date is still up in the air.

"When we do move it will be to a ground which has the best facilities for an amateur club in the North-west. They will be of county standard," Parker said.

Tonge have a new pro in Amila Weththasinghe and a new captain as the club try to fill the massive shoes left by Pakistani Anil Nisar who left to join Clifton in the Central Lancs League after seven memorable years at Castle Hill.

"He is difficult to replace and we will all have to make up for the runs he used to score," said skipper Nigel Partington.

"But we have a new professional who did well in his first season at Bradshaw but struggled a bit at Kearsley. He has potential and we hope he can come good for us.

"Simon Anderton has stepped down as captain, but he will be like a new player for us as he will bat at number three or four, not at number eight as he has been doing.

"We have a young team and two of them - Alex Rodzock and my son Danny, have played in Australia this winter so we hope they will be better for that."

Meanwhile, Little Lever's new skipper Adam Worrall has his heart set on a final spot.

"I have been playing for about five seasons and never reached a final so that would be nice," he said.

"But our target has to be a top-six finish and getting back into the Lancashire Knockout."

Egerton exceeded expectations last season with a fourth-place finish and skipper Paul Stafford is looking to build a successful team around talented all-rounder Stuart Hornby, who returned to the club midway through 2007.

"We have some good youngsters and we will be looking to give as much experience as we can to Scott Harmison and Liam Watkinson," he said.

Bradshaw are expecting big things from their new professional Amol Muzumdar, who former England skipper Alec Stewart once described as the best Indian cricketer never to have played for his country.

"We will be looking to finish in the top half of the table instead of the bottom half and hope our new pro will make the difference," said skipper David Morris.

Greenmount captain John Ashworth wants to end a 20 year gap and bring the title back to Brandlesholme Road.

The Bury outfit were the only side to push champions Walkden last season and had an impressive finish of two runners-up spots in the league and Lancashire Knockout and success in the Hamer Cup final.

"That will take some beating but it would be nice to win the title as I am the only player from the side who won it 20 years ago," said Ashworth.

"Walkden are the side to shoot for but I understand that Farnworth have some big signings and they will fancy their chances.

"I hope that is the case as I much prefer to play in games where the opposition provides a real test and the more competitive the games are the better."

Heaton's youngsters will be looking to build on the experience of a tough season in 2007.

They have a similar line-up to last year but 24-year-old Gareth Carson takes the skipper's role to complete a remarkable sequence of captaining at every level at Heaton.

"I am very proud and it is a great honour," he said. "We are a very young side and it is a new challenge for me and we hope the experience of last season will help us this time."

Steve Dublin plans to make a big impression with the youngsters after his return to skipper Kearsley.

The big-hitting West Indian, admits his heart is at the club and he wants to nurture the talent that is at Springfield Road.

"We have some good youngsters and I want to encourage them and give them a chance in the team," he said.

6:27am Saturday 26th April 2008

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