LOWERHOUSE, looking to end East Lancashire's lingering Lancashire League title aspirations tomorrow, hope to have Matthew Mott back as their professional again next year, writes PETE OLIVER.

The Australian left-hander has had a useful first season at Liverpool Road with 780 league runs at an average of just under 50.

And skipper Matt Hope confirmed they would like to have Mott, whose previous campaign in the Lancashire League yielded 1,097 run for Church two years ago, back again next summer.

"He has had a good season and we have been pleased with him. We are waiting to dot the 'i's and cross the 't's. I am sure he has enjoyed it and we would like him back," said Hope.

Mott, who has also weighed in with 33 wickets with his slow left-arm, is switching state sides this winter from Queensland to Victoria where he has been promised a starting slot in the Sheffield Shield.

And Hope believes that bodes well if he commits himself to Lowerhouse again.

The skipper added: "If he comes back next year it can only benefit us if he is playing regularly in the state side.

"He is hoping to play more Shield games so should come back an even better player."

Hope admits Mott has been given too little support by the amateur batsman as Lowerhouse have been unable to repeat their title challenge of last season and slumped to a 106-run defeat to Colne last Sunday. "It's been one of those seasons when everyone has gone through a bad patch at the same time," he added.

"But we want to finish on a high note and if we do that we will probably forget about what's happened.

"We have got two more games to get back up again and of course we want to finish as high as possible."

East Lancs have Lancashire seamer Paul Ridgway back as their professional. They must win and hope Nelson don't enjoy a victory at Church or the league championship will be heading to Seedhill.

"I am sure we will make it difficult for them," said Hope, who has Mark Whelan back in his side in place of Frank Entwhistle.

Rawtensall entertain Todmorden looking to maintain their upward momentum following last weekend's one-wicket win at Bacup.

"As long as we don't have to apply for re-election," said Rawtenstall captain Keith Roscoe who was at the crease to see his side to that vital win which lifted them to fourth from bottom.

"We have to make sure we finish away from second to bottom by making in-roads and trying to get up the league.

"Next season the younger lads will be another year older and more experienced and perhaps we might look to build on what we have started." Re-election tends to be a rubber-stamping exercise but pride comes into play and Roscoe doesn't want to take any chances.

"We have got to be vigilant," he added.

Rawtenstall have struggled despite the efforts of leading league run-getter Keith Arthurton who looks odds-on for a World Cup berth next season which could rule him out of an immediate return to the Worswick Memorial Ground.

Tomorrow's fixtures: Burnley v Bacup, Church v Nelson, Colne v Accrington, East Lancs v Lowerhouse, Enfield v Haslingden, Ramsbottom v Rishton, Rawtenstall v Todmorden.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.