THERE is an early start tomorrow for Ockbrook & Borrowash as they face a crucial weekend in the hunt for an unprecedented trophy treble.

The Beechwood Derbyshire Premier League leaders will start at midday against visitors Ticknall in their league match, looking to extend a 41-point lead at the top of the table.

They will not hang around long after the game, as they will then travel up to Durham for an overnight stay before facing Chester-le-Street in the last 16 of the Cockspur Cup the national knockout competition for clubs.

Ockbrook are also comfortably qualifying from the group stages of the Derbyshire Premier Cup, which they have won for the last three seasons.

It all adds up to an exciting first season as captain for opening bowler Neil Smith, who says the team are looking forward to getting stuck into their weekend.

“We did approach the league to see if it would be possible to move the game to another date but Ticknall have been very good in accommodating us with a midday start,” said Smith.

“We can't wait to get going.

“The league game is another opportunity for us to improve our lead at the top of the table.

“We have talked at length about keeping pressure on the teams chasing us.

“We know the chasing pack need us to slip up but were determined to ensure that doesn't happen.

“I know it's a cliche, and I'm not being disrespectful, but I'm really not bothered about anyone else's results.

“There are some really good sides below us but I know if we continue to perform like we have done, then we'll be OK.”

Batsmen Matt Lineker, well on his way to 1,000 runs for the season, Matt Cassar and Johnny Owen have all been in outstanding form for Ockbrook so far but Smith is keen to stress how well the team has been playing as a whole.

“Some of our performances in recent weeks have been excellent,” he said.

“Quite rightly, Lineker, Cassar and Owen have taken a lot of the plaudits but the contributions with the bat of Charlie Ault, Ben McGonigal and Ian Darlington have been great as well.

“On occasions, when we have lost early wickets, the middle order have come up with the goods and have shown real character in helping us to post good totals.

“In terms of the bowling, Trevor Smith is bowling the best I have seen from him in five years and, with him and Lian Wharton, I believe we have the two best bowlers in the league.

“We have also had consistent performances from Gareth Young and Oli Saffell.”

The Ockbrook captain knows it will be important that no-one takes relegation-threatened Ticknall for granted tomorrow, even though the visitors will be without opening batsman Paul Borrington, who has been called up by Derbyshire.

“Ticknall have some good young players and, in Tanveer Ahmed, they have a real match-winner,” said Smith.

“We'll be giving them plenty of respect, because the league remains top priority for us.

“I'm not interested in taking our foot off the gas or resting players just because we're in the last 16 of the Cocskpur Cup on Sunday.

“The lads will be in no doubt of what is expected of them for tomorrow's game.”