The team are presented with their awards. A previously unpublished image.

The holders, Burnley retained the Burnley Express Festival Trophy in bleak conditions at Lowerhouse on Monday, 1st May 1978. On a day when spectators and players shivered in the biting wind, the Turf Moor men proved themselves the outstanding team of the competition. It can't have been much fun playing. Yet Burnley made the most of it, emphatically beating Lowerhouse in the semi-finals and then out-playing Nelson in the final. With professional Shafiq Ahmad in good form throughout the day no-one could deny Burnley's superiority. There was never much doubt about the outcome of the final once Shafiq and Mick Swift had rattled up a quick 66-run fourth wicket partnership in only eight overs.

Burnley had begun well with an opening partnership of 35 in five overs before skipper Roland Harrison was caught off Grandfield. The Swift-Shafiq partnership swung the match, with Shafiq staying to complete a fine 50 before being bowled by Pat Calderbank next ball. Burnley's total of 121 off 16 overs was always going to be too much for a Nelson side playing without a professional. Shafiq made their task even harder by immediately bowling Ken Varley without a run on the board. A second wicket partnership of 43 between Derek Grandfield and Chris Hartley helped to retrieve the situation but by then Nelson were in the ninth over and well behind the required scoring rate. John Edmondson stepped in with two quick wickets and all that was left was for Burnley to provide two more highlights in the field. Shafiq produced a brilliant piece of fielding to run out Hartley and then Harrison plucked a fierce drive from David Reeves out of the air at silly mid-on, for a catch that he must have enjoyed.

The trophy was presented to Roland Harrison by Mr Ernest Leah Chief Executive of Burnley Express-Nelson Leader Series of newspapers. The day was splendidly organised by host club Lowerhouse who, despite some healthy takings behind the bar, were left to ponder the fact that the weather had ruined the chance of some bumper takings.