IT WAS just three years ago that the breakaway Witton Warriors were formed to give a group of friends the chance to carrying on playing the game they love.

Having become disillusioned with life at Blackburn Northern, the five friends decided maturity and experience rather than youth was the way forward.

Now the team, mainly made up of 30-somethings, can proudly boast the fact that they are league champions and have a cup final against local rivals Clitheroe to look forward to.

“When we decided to set up our own team we had to beg, borrow and steal players,” said vice captain Ann-Marie Lambert. “It was a case of persuading some of our friends to take up the game or get others to return having not played since school.”

She added: “At Northern the club decided that youth was the way forward, which is not a bad thing, but there were a few of us who thought the more mature approach might be a bit better.”

Having mustered a team together, Witton finished third in its inaugural season in the Central Lancashire League Division Three and finishing in the same place a year later.

However, this season everything has clicked in to place.

So much so that they have stormed to the league title without dropping a single point — culminating with a thumping 11-against Clitheroe Thirds — just to add a little extra spice to Saturday’s showdown between the two clubs.

Witton take on their local rivals again in the Lishman Cup final in Blackpool but this time it is in the shape of Clitheroe Seconds who have been equally as dominant as they have raced to the Division Two title without losing a game.

“Our win on Saturday should make it a little interesting,” said Lambert who scored twice along with Sorrel Holland (5), Aysha Khansia (2), Suzanne Howard and Debbie Derbyshire.

“But I think it is fair to say that we are massive underdogs. We are just happy to get to the final and we’ll be giving it our best shot.

“And besides, we seem to play better when the pressure is really on us.”

Despite the overwhelming odds stacked against them, the Warriors go in to Saturday’s final in Blackpool knowing they have already claimed the scalp of two clubs from higher divisions.

Lambert said: “This is the chance to show how good teams are in Division Three and a chance for us to test ourselves against higher quality opposition.

“We have already beaten two teams in Division Two on our way to the final so that is a great way for us to put down a marker and show what we are capable of.”

Win or lose, it marks a dramatic rise in fortunes for a team made up of ‘waifs and strays’ from other clubs across the area. There is a great feeling of camaraderie at Witton who only boast a smaller squad of players.

It holds regular fund-raising efforts for the club and the support of its sponsors Physiofusion and The Station, Cherry Tree - where the team retire to after home games - is much appreciated.

After Saturday’s cup final, it will be case of dusting themselves down and turning their attention to the summer seven-a-side hockey league.

“Our long term aim is to get two teams going,” said Lambert. “For the time being, if we can get two teams in the summer league then we will be more than happy.”