Palace Shield pair eyeing up a double

The final is being staged at Penwortham’s Middleforth Green ground and promises to be an exciting game.

It is a clash of the Moore and Smalley Palace Shield Premier 
Division’s first and third-placed teams.

So both clubs have key league games to negotiate first tomorrow afternoon.

Garstang visit Longridge, while Vernons go to Doctors Lane to face Eccleston.

Going into the weekend, Garstang have a nine-point lead at the top of the table.

Looking ahead to a busy couple of days, skipper Mark Walling said: “ Longridge are a pretty similar team to us.

“They are a young and 
energetic side so I think it’s 
going to be a good game.

“We beat them earlier in the season at our place but it was a close-run game.

“They have some talented players but so have we.

“What it will come down to is who plays the better cricket on the day.”

Garstang are the Meyler Cup holders, having beaten Vernons 12 months ago.

Walling’s men won after reaching 155-1 in reply to 
Vernons’ 196-7 when the rain came.

He said: “It’s good to be a part of games like the ones we are playing this weekend.

“Playing in them is 
certainly 
better than being sat around 
and not having any 
involvement in them.

“ Hopefully it will be a repeat of last year but Vernon Carus are going to be up for it.

“It’s not going to be an easy weekend – we’re going to have to work hard in both games and, hopefully, we will reap the benefits.”