Derby rivals collide in cup semi to savour (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Derby rivals collide in cup semi to savour

12:00pm Friday 29th June 2012 in League news By Matt Donlan, Sports reporter

HYNDBURN is the centre of cricket attention tomorrow as derby rivals Accrington and Church clash in one of the most eagerly anticipated Foster’s Worsley Cup semi-finals in years.

The pair collide at Thorneyholme Road as the competition plays catch-up after rain caused a fixture backlog and led to the game being played on the initial semi-final reserve date.

The winners of the tie will host the final on Sunday, August 12 and the game highlights the strength of cricket in the borough.

Church make the short trip in second place in the league and their third-placed hosts are keen to upset last year’s beaten finalists.

“It’s a great game to be involved in,” said Accrington skipper Jimmy Hayhurst. “And it shows how strong cricket is in Hyndburn.

“We see it in the Twenty20 and ours is the hardest group to try and get out of and that is now coming through in the cup as well as in the league.

“Lowerhouse are out there at the top but second, third and fourth are Church, ourselves and Enfield.

“The tie will be a cracker.”

The local rivals last met in the Worsley Cup in 2001 with Accrington winning and Church skipper Craig Fergusson is equally excited about the clash and said: “The incentive that the winners will host the final is great and we are all looking forward to it.”

It isn’t just about the semi-final as East Lancashire and Enfield make a fourth attempt to play their quarter-final.

The game promises to entertain with rival South African pros Ockert Erasmus and Werner Coetsee locking horns in a battle of the Boks.

It’s a game Erasmus has been looking forward to since before the original date was washed out on June 9.

“It’s always great to play against one of your fellow countrymen,” he said. “Werner is an excellent cricketer, it will be a great battle.”

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