LOSTOCK are confident they can beat Horwich for the second time this season and claim the first trophy on offer in 2019 in tomorrow’s Bolton League T20 final.

Rob Holgate’s side make the short trip to Ramsbottom Road for the rearranged repeat of last year’s final – rained off on Friday.

Horwich won last season’s final, but Lostock are determined to ensure it is not the same story when the sides meet again (6pm).

Lostock are enjoying an impressive Bolton League Premiership campaign.

They sit fourth, having won six from 11 outings, including Saturday’s seven-wicket success at home against Westhoughton.

Late last month, they claimed an away win against Horwich.

“We’re kind of disappointed it wasn’t on Friday with people coming down. But I think Horwichers like a beer any night of the week. I’m sure there will be a few on,” said Holgate of his former home ground.

“It has messed us around availability-wise a bit because a couple of lads work away during the week.

“But we’ve done well in the T20s since joining the Bolton League, and we’re massively looking forward to it.

“I think we’ll be seen as the underdogs given they’ve won an awful lot of games this year. But we beat them in the league at their place, so there’s no reason why we can’t do it again.

“I think it’s a match-up where batting is probably their better suit and bowling’s ours. It will be a good contest. But we have plenty of lads who, if they fire with the bat, we’ll be there and thereabouts.

“Brad (Williams), our pro, has been fantastic this season and Dave Flanagan could take a team apart.”

In Saturday’s home win against Westhoughton, Holgate starred with 6-44 from 11.2 overs as the visitors were bowled out for 146 inside 44 overs, having been invited to bat.Sixteen-year-old Sam Barlow then impressed with 43 not out, opening the batting to anchor a commanding chase.

As any good captain does, Holgate deflected the attention away from himself: “That was the story of the day,” he said.

“That’s Sam’s first 50-over game for the firsts this season. He’s been doing well in the second team and the thirds. He batted all the way through. Without that knock, you just never know what might happen. It’s won us the game in the end. He was fantastic.”

Daniel Vincent top-scored with 47 from number three as the win was secured inside 43 overs of the chase.

Lostock are 12 points clear of Farnworth Social Circle in fifth as they aim to be the best of the rest in the Premiership.

Holgate added: “There are three standout teams in Walkden, Horwich and Farnworth, and from what we’ve played I think Walkden are the best. So my prediction would be that they’ll go on and win it. We’d like to be challenging those teams a bit more, and I don’t think we’re too far behind bowling-wise.

“The only thing we maybe miss is a very good spinner.

“The four of us who tend to bowl, Adam Syddall, myself, Dave Flanagan and Tom Sheen, are all seamers.

“Batting wise, the talent’s there, just not the consistency.”