THE sun smiled down on Blackrod Cricket Club, almost as much as those taking part in their annual eight-a-side tournament.

The eight teams taking part played pairs cricket, with each player batting for two overs and bowling an over apiece.

It is the eighth year the Vicarage Road club has staged the tournament, with great support from local clubs entering a side. Only once has the weather prevented any play but the 2017 event was blessed with fine weather throughout

The eight teams – Horwich, Atherton, Newton, Eagley, Bradshaw, the All Stars combined squad and the host club's A and B teams – were split into two groups of four, playing three round-robin matches each. The top two would contest the final with the second, third and fourth-placed teams also facing each other.

At the end of the group stage Bradshaw and Blackrod A finished at the top of their groups and put on a nail-biting final match, which Bradshaw won by three runs to get their hands on the cup.

Blackrod CC chairman and under-nines, u11s and u13s coach Richard Ashworth said: "It was a brilliant day, really successful as it always is. We have been rained off once down the years but the weather held off for us, it was a perfect day for it.

"We thank all those who came to support the tournament, when you see the smiles on the kids' faces as they're running around it's a wonderful feeling and makes it all worthwhile."