Rain made it a very frustrating weekend for Bacup. On Friday they hosted local rivals Rawtenstall in the T20 competition. Bacup asked their opponents to bat first and they were soon in deep trouble on 38 for 7 with Naylor and Ben Lord both picking up three wickets. They recovered slightly to 50 for 7 after 15 overs when heavy rain brought an end to proceedings. As a result Bacup will probably have to win two away games at Middleton and Rochdale if they are to qualify for this year's quarter final. Their T20 form over the last three years would suggest they are more than capable of doing this.
On Sunday Bacup travelled to Dill Hall Lane where they were invited to bat first on a difficult pitch. Wickets fell at regular intervals with Fielding, Schofield and Thompson all departing without scoring and Newbitt and Chris Gansler scoring only four and six respectively. Fortunately, Bacup's in form professional survived a dropped catch and a run out chance before going on to make a splendid 78. He was aided by Collinge who provided dogged resistance in making a very useful 22. Ben Lord (15 not out) and Bradford (13) then boosted Bacup 's total to 170 for 8 in 43 overs after rain had twice interrupted the innings.
In response Enfield were making steady if not spectacular progress on 62 for 0 after 20 overs when the rain came again. Bacup felt that the game should have got underway again before the cut off point, but it was not to be and the Bacup players and supporters were left bitterly disappointed as Enfield won by a narrow margin on the DLS method.
It was a similar take of woe at Lamehead where the second team made a useful score of 183 for 6. Scott Thompson (66), Sam Harris (30) and Charlie Gansler (35) all made useful contributions. In response Enfield were 113 for 4 with the game in the balance when rain ended the match with the opposition also winning on DLS.
Rain on Saturday meant the third team game at Littleborough did not go ahead.
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