WOODBANK and Walshaw captains Anthony Harris and Mikey Watt spent the lead-up to this weekend’s must-win clash on a stag do together in Benidorm.

The skippers were among a host of players from the two clubs celebrating with groom-to-be, Woodbank opener Gavin Nichol, on the Costa Blanca.

And while Walshaw’s cricket chairman Mike Mills promises there will be no love lost on the pitch on Saturday, they are sure to celebrate or drown their sorrows together after the game.

Both teams’ seasons are on a knife-edge with two matches to play. Woodbank’s title charge was derailed by a second tie of the season against Egerton last weekend, leaving them nine points behind champions-elect Flixton.

And Walshaw dropped back into the relegation zone after losing against fellow strugglers Denton West. The result of which means Saturday’s showdown at Walshaw is a must-win for both clubs.

“I will be interested to see what shape the players turn up in as I think they only touch down on Friday,” said Mills.

“But it will be the same for both clubs.

“The fact is, though, that whatever goes on on the pitch during the game, it will be left out there.

“We want to give ourselves a chance of staying up on the last day (when Walshaw play fellow-strugglers Egerton) and the only way we can be sure of that is to win, while Woodbank have to win and hope Flixton lose or their title chances are over.

“So it will be one hell of a match, but I am sure it will be played in the right spirit.”

Second-bottom Bury capped a difficult weekend for local clubs in the Greater Manchester League Premier Division with a defeat against Flixton, but with a home match against basement club Glossop on Saturday they can still keep their hopes of survival alive with victory.

GREENMOUNT all but secured a return to the Greater Manchester League Premier Division with a three-wicket victory at Winton.

Mark Stewart rolled back the years to claim 6-24 as Winton were bowled out for 87.

There were enough gremlins in the pitch to give the Division One leaders a few concerns, but after being reduced to 16-4 Andrew Bowker steadied the ship with 23 and captain Phil Heaton saw them past their target with an unbeaten 12.

The result left Greenmount 12 points ahead of fifth-placed Flowery Field with a far superior run rate.

They remain just two points ahead of Heywood, where they travel on the final day of the season for what could be a title showdown.

Brooksbottom and Elton remain just a point outside the promotion places in Division Two, with four games to play, after both teams enjoyed convincing wins at the weekend.

Elton thumped Hindley St Peters, winning by 10 wickets. Steve Wilkins finished with 4-17 while Tom Booth and Gareth Edwards took two wickets apiece as Hindley were bowled out for 90.

Matt Ward wasted little time in polishing off the majority of the runs needed, hitting an unbeaten 77 in 35 balls, while fellow opener Ben Morris had the best seat in the house, finishing on 10 not out.

Edenfield’s chances of squeezing into the top four were all but dashed by local rivals Brooksbottom, who won their derby duel by 78 runs.

It looked an unlikely outcome when Brooksbottom were bowled out for 114. They had number nine batsman Ash Horrocks to thank for pushing their total past 100 after he rescued them with an unbeaten 33.

But Edenfield’s reply never got going as they were skittled out for 36.

Zeb Qureshi took five scalps and Mo Iqbal claimed four wickets as the home side capitulated.

Paul Hopton, Brooks skipper, said: “It’s always special winning the derby, but I felt a bit for Edenfield coming up against Mo and Zeb on a challenging deck without three or four or their regular players.

“Though we had to deal with the likes of Fred Nixon and to get over 100 proved a good effort.

“Thankfully, Ash Horrocks, who was only playing as a favour, cashed in against their change bowlers.”

In Division Three, Elton Vale are champions in waiting after they beat Radcliffe in what was effectively a title showdown. The league leaders put on 113, thanks to 30 from Zulfiqar Ali, then bowled out Radcliffe for 54, with Ali Shah taking six wickets.