CREWE and Nantwich hope to bounce back from Saturday's Powergen Junior Vase exit when they host Sandbach in a South Cheshire derby on Saturday (2.30pm).
Sandbach applied to the South Lancs and Cheshire League to have Saturday's Division Two fixture called off to enable players from both sides to watch the morning World Cup final between England and Australia in Sydney, but the move was rejected by the league's management committee and Crewe and Nantwich.
Crewe went out of the Junior Vase at the third-round stage, going down 32-16 at Littleborough.
For the neutral spectator it was an exciting match full of running rugby and action which flowed from end-to-end, but for the Crewe supporter it was disappointing to see their side shoot themselves in the foot time after time.
Of the six tries scored by the home side, four were due to wayward passing by the Crewe backs but, to Littleborough's credit, they were fastened on by the ever-alert opposition who finished in devastating style.
All seemed well up to half-time when Crewe's pack were well on top with winger Andy O'Keeffe scoring twice, and with a penalty by Matthew Farr, they led 13-7 at one stage and could have been further adrift if their handling had been better.
However, after the turnaround, things fell apart for the visitors with three interceptions allowing the Littleborough wingers to race away and score, while two well-worked tries put paid to any Crewe hopes of progressing.
The second and third teams - both playing Ormskirk sides - won 33-15 and 33-14 respectively.
Mike Parker scored two tries for the seconds with Elliot Sproston, Danny Parker and Jon Cockburn while Parker also landed three conversions and Dave Prosser kicked a penalty.
This Saturday, Crewe's seconds are at Bolton and the thirds host Wilmslow.
Sandbach had no league game last Saturday. Their third team went down 65-10 to Bowdon seconds. Sandbach's consolation tries came from Andy Brookes and Lee Thompson.
