DARWEN’S Birch Hall will be at the centre of attention today as the Chorley Building Society Northern League stages an annual match with the MCC.

The prestigious game pits the league’s U21s with the men from Lord’s and Darwen was chosen as this year’s hosts.

The games are always competitive with the young guns keen to prove a point and Darwen are hoping for a good crowd in the sunshine.

The game is played over 45 overs a side and play starts at 11am.

Admission to Birch Hall is free and refreshments will be available all day.

Jordan Clarke’s men are also in need of a boost tomorrow as they make the trip to Stanley Park for their league game with Blackpool.

Clarke’s men were well beaten by Netherfield in the league last Saturday and then slipped to defeat to the same opposition in the final of the TWP Wealth Twenty20 competition in the Lake District.

Chorley on the other hand are in decent form as they warm-up for Sunday’s big ECB National Knockout quarter-final at Shrewsbury when they travel to high-flying Leyland.

Andy Holdsworth’s men hammered Morecambe last Saturday and travel to Fox Lane confident of pulling off what would still be regarded as an upset against David Makinson’s title chasers, who go into the game in second spot.