ELTON stand in the way of Walshaw's hopes of completing an Association league and cup double.

The current champions are favourites to retain the title for a fourth year but for all that, the Cross Cup has always eluded them.

But on Sunday they have the chance to put the record straight.

In fact they have had a dismal time in the competition since joining the league in 1975.

In that time they have reached the final three times but lost them all, while in recent years they have even struggled to get past the first round.

That gives them an extra incentive in Sunday's final at Clifton, where there is also the small matter of local pride.

It is the first time the two Bury sides have faced each other in the final but at least Elton have experience of a cup win. In fact every time they have reached the final they have won. In 1995 they beat and the following season and considering they have only been in the league eight years, two cup wins in that time is not a bad average.

Of Sunday's match, Walshaw will certainly start as favourites, although they have been going through a patchy time just recently.

The problems arise when their three top batsmen fail, pro Jonathan Fielding, skipper Rob Faulkner and the big-hitting all-rounder Brett Collins. That has happened too often just recently but the side has shown the mark of true champions with the rest of the team stepping in with match-winning performances - although some of the results have been a little too close for comfort.

That is especially true of the two matches between the sides earlier this season.

At Walshaw, Elton needed one to win off the last ball and got it, while in the return game Walshaw needed three off the final delivery and won the game with a boundary four.

That suggests Sunday's game could go to the wire and the influences of the two professionals, Fielding and Hall, could determine the cup's ultimate destination but should they fail, then both teams have enough matchwinners to make it an intriguing final.

but to do that Elton know they have to put the brake on Walshaw's top order.

The onus for that falls particularly on the shoulders of their professional Chris Hall but he should be helped by contributions from Peter Lomax, Chappell and former Walshaw spinner Mark Goddard.

Elton will also be looking for runs from Hall, who has shown he is equally comfortable with the bat as well as the ball, a fact borne out by his last season's averages which saw him hitting 647 runs and taking 64 wickets.