EAST Lancs Paper Mill will turn their focus back to promotion this weekend after bowing out of the First XI Championship Cup at the semi-final stage.

Paul Hewart’s men are second in Division Four West of the Greater Manchester Cricket League, strengthening their position on Saturday with a one-wicket win at home to Elton seconds.

They followed up that victory with a brave performance in the cup at home to Division Three side Deane and Derby on Sunday before losing by 62 runs.

“We should be really proud of what we have achieved,” said the ELPM skipper.

“Hopefully this will give us the kick up the backside we needed to crack on and gain promotion, which has always been our main goal.”

After a series of wins against higher-league opposition ELPM went into the match against Deane and Derby convinced they could pull off another shock.

They certainly made Deane and Derby work hard for the win, taking their first two wickets before a run was on the board.

Hewart said: “Matthew Smalley and Louis Birmingham put in great early spells and we took a few more wickets at regular intervals before Deane and Derby recovered to post a decent total of 282 from their 50 overs.

“We gave it a real good go to reach it but eventually had to swing from the hip in ever-worsening weather conditions and fell short.”

ELPM will be hoping to bounce back from the defeat with a trip to local rivals Tottington St Johns on Saturday.

Radcliffe, meanwhile, are fifth in Division Three after claiming a two-wicket win at home to ELPM’s conquerors Deane and Derby.

See Thursday's edition of the Radcliffe Times for a picture special on ELPM's First XI Championship Cup semi-final.