DARWEN captain Andy Walker is hoping it's third time lucky as he leads his side, which includes his father Steve and former Blackburn Rovers footballer Mark Patterson, into the semi-finals of the Manchester and District Golf Association Foursomes.

Darwen lost in the last four of the matchplay competition in Walker's first term in charge.

But he is hopeful of going at least one better in his third year of captaincy when Darwen face Warrington in the semi-finals at North Manchester Golf Club on Sunday morning. If they get through that, they will then face either Lowes Park of Bury or Manchester's Swinton Park in the final in the afternoon. The Darwen side has won five rounds, starting way back in February, to get this far, including a 6-1 victory over Walmsley Golf Club, who beat last year's winners North Manchester in an earlier round.

That form allied to the experience of their previous semi-final appearance, gives Walker belief that this could be Darwen's year, with a coach-load of members set to lend their support.

The seven-pair Darwen team, which has to include nine players off a double-figure handicap, is: Andy Walker and Gary Phillipson, Michael Painter and John Vernon, Michael Bateman and Michael Hoyle, Graham Brindley and Gary Long, John Grimshaw and Shaun Dewhurst, Steve Walker and Mark Patterson, Tony Durkin and Gareth Thomas.

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