AARON Fielding is enjoying life at the helm of Bacup and is targeting progress in the T20 competition tonight and an upturn in Lancashire League form in the second half of the season.

Fielding has been skipper of the T20 side at Lanehead since the start of last season but is now club captain in all competitions following Tim Farragher’s decision to stand down to concentrate on his own form.

Bacup have won just twice in the league so far this season and suffered a 10-wicket defeat to Ramsbottom in Fielding’s first league game in charge last weekend.

But there are plenty of positives to take from the T20 and Fielding’s men can make sure of their place in the last eight with a win away at Rawtenstall tonight.

Bacup are second in their group behind leaders Ramsbottom, who have already sealed top spot.

It is a straight shoot-out between Fielding’s side and Middleton for the runners-up berth with Bacup currently ahead by 0.009 on run rate. It all makes for a dramatic finale tonight with Middleton entertaining Rammy.

And Fielding is relishing the chance to progress from the group for the second straight season.

“We reached final’s day last year,” he said. “We beat Church in the group who hadn’t lost a T20 game for a long time and then had a really good win over Lowerhouse in the quarter finals.

“Being the underdogs definitely helped us and it would be nice to get through again.

“Once you get into the last eight then anything can happen and reaching final’s day is a great occasion so we would love to get back there.

“But we know we have a tough game against Rawtenstall.

“They have some good players and first thing’s first we have to make sure we win the game.

“Then, if the opportunity comes, we can perhaps look to put our foot down and try and increase our run rate.

“It is really tight at the moment and hopefully Rammy can do us a favour and beat Middleton but we will be concentrating on winning our game first and see where that takes us.”

Bacup host Rochdale in the league tomorrow hoping to arrest a slide of five straight defeats which leaves them second bottom and just six points above basement boys Rishton.

But Fielding, who has come through the ranks at Bacup, is hopeful of picking up a few more points over the rest of the season, even if they ultimately fall short of a top half finish which would secure them a place in the Premier Division next season when the league splits.

He added: “I don’t think we are a top 12 team at the moment, we are under no illusions about that. But we want to finish as high as we can and win as many games as we can.

“We have had a really tough run of fixtures in the last few weeks and I think we have played the majority of what I would say were top 12 teams.

“We have Rochdale on Saturday who I have never played before so it will be a little bit of a step into the unknown but we are looking forward to it.”

Fielding admits he had no hesitation in stepping up to the top role when Farragher stood down last week, even if it does bring an extra workload.

“I am enjoying it so far,” he said. “I am keen on all the on-field stuff but it is the other stuff which will mean extra work.

“I have a three-month old at home so being captain probably didn’t go down too well with the missus but I am happy to do it for the rest of the season and beyond if the results are right.

“Selection is difficult, they are all my mates so it is hard to drop any of them.

“It is nice to have Tim still in the team to speak to and get some advice.

“When Ramsbottom were 115-0 chasing 120 to beat us I went over and asked to see if he had any suggestions!

“He will be a big help for me and our pro (Ernest Kemm) has also got experience of being a captain so that is helpful.

“I have enjoyed it so far despite the defeat last week and am looking forward to the rest of the season.”

Of Farragher’s decision to quit the captaincy, Bacup chairman Neal Wilkinson said: “Tim feels that a change of voice and new ideas might be what we need going forward.

“We would of course like to thank Tim for all of his effort and organisation in the role in the last couple of seasons and look forward to his continuing contributions to the club."

Elsewhere in the Lancashire League tomorrow will look to continue their good league form when they visit basement boys Rishton this weekend.

The Turf Moor men have won eight of their 10 games so far and sit in fifth place in the table following victory over neighbours Nelson last time out.

Walsden are top of the table and can stretch their perfect start to life in the league to 11 straight wins when East Lancashire visit.

Ramsbottom are eight points adrift and face a tough home game with Norden while Darwen, in third, entertain sixth placed Crompton.

Lowerhouse have also started the campaign well and will be bidding to keep pace with the leading trio when Great Harwood visit Liverpool Road.

Church and Todmorden, both in the top half, clash at West End while defending champions Clitheroe, down in 12th after winning only five of their first 10 games, will look to kickstart their season away at Enfield.

The other games see Accrington, in 10th, visit Middleton and Rawtenstall host Norden.

Meanwhile, the Lancashire League fixtures washed out on the opening day of the season are set to be rescheduled for September although no new date has yet been agreed.