CLITHEROE captain Jack Dewhurst is confident his all conquering T20 side can continue their fine form in the short format when they get their campaign underway tonight.

The Chatburn Road side won the Ribblesdale League competition in their final year in that division in 2016 and repeated the feat last year in their Lancashire League T20 debut.

They have also claimed league titles in each of the last five seasons and so are well versed in picking up silverware.

And Dewhurst is confident that trend can continue this term, despite seeing his side suffer two defeats in their opening six league games and suffer a Worsley Cup exit in round one.

But the skipper is in confident mood ahead of tonight’s trip to Colne in the JWL Founders Group which also contains Accrington, Rishton, Burnley and East Lancashire.

“The aim of playing in these competitions is to win them.” said Dewhurst.

“We have quite a young side out on Friday but they are all good enough and I think we will do quite well.

“The number one aim is to get out of the group and reach the quarter-finals.

“If you do that then winning one more game means you reach Final’s Day and you also put yourselves forward as a potential host.

“That is a huge incentive for us because that day can help bring money into the club.”

Dewhurst revealed that Clitheroe will have a sprinkling of youngsters throughout their T20 campaign, as they have done in the league so far this term.

He added: “For the first game we have a few more than usual due to availability but we have been playing a few youngsters in the league games this season and they are all good enough to be in there.

“The lads that have come in have done well so far and hopefully that continues.”

Clitheroe sit ninth in the league table after the opening six weeks of the campaign with four wins to their name.

But Dewhurst can’t see any reason to panic at this early stage.

He added: “We just haven’t fired in all of our games so far.

“I think in the three big games we have lost all three to Ramsbottom, Burnley and Darwen and one of those was in the Worsley Cup.

“We obviously won’t get the chance to play those sides again in the league this season and get the points back but there is no reason to be worried at the moment.”

Burnley skipper Dan Pickup also has faith in his side’s T20 chances ahead of their opener away at East Lancashire.

The Turf Moor men have excelled in knockout competitions in recent years, winning four Worsley Cups in a row prior to last season and also lifting the T20 title in 2015.

And even though Pickup himself is not playing T20 cricket this season he has high hopes for his teammates.

Chris Burton skippers the T20 team and Pickup said: “We want to get as far as we can and we have quite a strong side available.

“Everyone wants to play and I think we will do well.

“We’re quite an aggressive and attacking side with the bat and that should stand us in good stead.”

The remaining game in that group sees Rishton travel to Accrington.

Elsewhere, Darwen, beaten finalists in last season’s competition, entertain Lowerhouse in the pick of the JWL Bitter group fixtures.

The other two ties see Great Harwood entertain Church and Nelson host Enfield.

Bacup, losing semi-finalists last time around, start their 2018 campaign with a home game against new boys Middleton in the JWL MPA group.

League leaders Ramsbottom are also in that sextet and open up away at Haslingden while Norden take on Rawtenstall.

Walsden, second in the standings, have opened up with six straight wins and have already got a T20 victory under the belt having won at Milnrow in a fixture two weeks ago.

The remaining two first round fixtures take place tonight in that JWL Manchester Craft group. There’s a clash between two newcomers as Crompton host Rochdale while Todmorden host Littleborough.

The top two sides in the four groups qualify for the last eight with those ties taking place on July 6. Final’s Day is on Sunday, July 29.