GREAT Harwood captain Paul Houldsworth looks ahead to Sunday's Jennings Ramsbottom Cup final against Earby at Clitheroe, hoping to bow out on a high note.

I definitely won't be doing the captain's job next year so it would be nice to have one year and win something.

It's going to be difficult for us to win the league now.

Being rained off against Settle last weekend was a blow as I would have expected us to beat them and 11 points is a lot to make up on Cherry Tree with only five games left. It would mean Cherry Tree losing a couple and I can't really see that happening.

This is our chance for silverware and I don't want to dismiss the cup because it's the second biggest thing we can win.

We have beaten Earby twice this season so most people will probably have us as favourites but they are a good side and I think it will be tight.

Usually in our league if the professional does the business for you've got a good chance of winning, so if Farhan (Adil) does better than Alex Scholefield we should win.

But the amateurs also have their part to play and we have struggled this season on the bowling side.

The pro hasn't really fired with his bowling but Gordon Simpson, who usually gets us 50 wickets, is back and he will play and if we can keep them down then we would fancy getting the runs because batting is our strong point.

They have some good players in Ian Clarkson, Stephen Pickles, Craig Walton, if he gets going, and Trevor Kegg is a good bowler who has played in the Lancashire League, but I'm not really too concerned with them.

I played in the final when we won in 1990 and but missed it in 1995 because I was on holiday after playing in all of the rounds.

I was at Enfield in 1991 when we lost to Earby in the final. We were talking about it at selection the other night and Gordon Simpson and Daniel Cheesbrough played in that game.

I like playing at Clitheroe. It's a good ground and we've already won their in the cup this season.

Ironically we also play their in the league tomorrow so we'll hopefully get used to the wicket and it might give us a psychological edge.