THE race for silverware in the Rapid Recruit Burnley & District Snooker League is hotting up with all three knockout competitions down to the quarter final stages.

Simon Blackwell, who will kick off the defence of his Golden Cue title later this month plays Paul Averill for a place in the semi finals.

Blackwell, playing for British Rail, has a handicap of -62 while Paradise's Averill is -19.

Elsewhere, Dave Bannister takes on Sam Winder, G Farrington faces J Sanderson and David Caddy is up against John Lancely.

In the doubles, the experienced Andy Dibb teams up with Ighten Leigh partner M Wilkinson to take on S Hargreaves and M Taylor.

C Blades and G Hall from Westfield face S Hughes and M Livesey and D McKavett and E Catlow of Paradise for the Caddys from Rosegrove Unity A.

And in the team knockout, Division One leaders Ighten Leigh Pink take on Ighten Leigh C while there is an all Paradise clash with the A team taking on the B team.

A third Ighten Leigh team, the Redskins will be hoping to reach the last four at the expense of Rosegrove Unity A and Burnley Golf Club B play British Rail B.

Draw

Singles: Dave Bannister Burnley Golf Club (+3) v Sam Winder Burnley Miners B (-1), Simon Blackwell British Rail (-62) v P Averill Paradise (-19), G Farrington Ighten Mount (-2) v J Sanderson LC (+5), David Caddy Rosegrove Unity A (+5) v John Lancely British Rail (-26).

Doubles: S Hargreaves & M Taylor LC (-2) v M Wilkinson & A Dibb Ighten Leigh (-21), C Blades & G Hall Westfield (+25) v S Hughes & M Livsey LC (+4), D McKavett & E Catlow Paradise v D Caddy & S Caddy Rosegrove Unity A (+11), T Walne & M Ridgeway Burnley Golf Club v P Atherton & D Horgan Paradise.

Team: Burnley Golf Club B v British Rail B, Paradise B v Paradise A, Rosegrove Unity A v Ighten Leigh Redskins, Ighten Leigh C v Ighten Leigh Pinks.