WALSHAW'S focus will switch back to the league this weekend after a disappointing defeat in the final of the Derek Kay Per-Fit First XI Cup.

Mikey Watt's men lost by seven wickets to Bamford Fieldhouse.

The skipper admitted they were always chasing the game after a slow start with the bat.

And after being bowled out for 134 it was only a matter of when, not if Bamford would knock off the runs needed for victory.

But Watt is adamant that the sobering defeat will not undermine their main aim of the season – to achieve promotion.

"When we beat Bamford at our place earlier in the season it was quite convincing, so we knew we could do it, but we weren't quite there on the day," he said.

"We didn't bat as well as we could and were always going to struggle to defend a score like that against a team like Bamford, which has so many good players.

"It felt like we were chasing the game from the off after getting off to a slow start, and it's just a shame that we didn't do ourselves justice.

"We can feel very proud that we managed to get to the final - there are 40 or 50 teams in this league so to get to the last two was a great achievement.

"The defeat does not change that, and it has not changed our main objective, which was always to win promotion."

Walshaw remain top of Division One after last Saturday's intended clash against second-placed Bamford Fieldhouse was rained off.

They have a two-point lead over Bamford and third-placed Roe Green, but, more importantly to Watt, Walshaw have a 10-point cushion over local rivals Woodbank, who are fifth, one place outside the promotion places.

Walshaw are at home to Swinton Moorside on Saturday and face a double-header on the penultimate weekend of the season – at home to Worsley and then away at Woodbank – before they travel to fourth-placed Winton on the final day.

"We said at the start of the season that anything more than promotion this season would be a bonus, and that remains the same," added Watt.

"It would have been nice to win the cup and it would be nice to claim the title, but first we have to win promotion.

"It is so tight up there, any team in the top five is capable of winning the title, not just promotion.

"No one is making it easy for us by losing touch, and our run-in is not easy.

"Swinton won our league, the Bolton Association, last season while Worsley beat us in the reverse fixture.

"And it won't be easy going to Woodbank with everything still to play for.

"But I think two wins out of our final four matches would do it, and we want to get those as soon as possible."

Bury missed out on the chance to put pressure on their relegation rivals in the Premier League, losing by eight wickets at title challengers Clifton as all over matches in the division were abandoned.

No local teams managed a result in Division One, while Brooksbottom lost their match at Denton in Division Two on run-rate.

Meanwhile, ELPM lost by seven wickets at home to Roe Green's second XI in Division Four West.