Royton batsman Ian Halliwell walks as Crompton wicketkeeper Dane Fletcher and bowler Aqib Zulfiqar celebrate his dismissal.

by KEITH McHUGH

ROYTON secured early-season bragging rights over neighbours Crompton when they registered their first Lake Garage CLL victory of the season at the Paddock on Saturday.

Following a slack performance at Walsden the previous week, this was a much-needed tonic for Guy Lovell’s side.

They generally outplayed Crompton, who fielded and batted poorly and will need to show much more application if they are to fufil the ambitions of their followers this season.

Royton made the most of winning the toss by battling their way to a highly-respectable 199 all out. Ryan Harding, who was caught behind off an Aqib Zulfiqar no-ball when he was on nought, made 43 and shared a second-wicket stand of 96 with Matt Ward, both players giving the Crompton attack due respect by waiting to hit the bad balls.

A mid-innings collapse at a time when Royton were looking to accelerate ended hopes of a score around 240, professional Luke Procter being dropped by opposite number Kevin Stoute before holing out to Steven Wright at deep mid-wicket for 11, and overseas amateur Simon Harmer caught at mid-on for 18 after playing some nice shots on the leg side.

Crompton gave away far too many runs in no-balls, wides and byes, while their fielding was at best ordinary and at times woeful as Tony Walsh (28 not out) put them under pressure.

Extras was Royton’s joint top score with 43, and although bowlers Jevon Searles (three for 60) and Stoute (four for 68) stuck to their task, more support is needed in the field.

Crompton were confident of chasing down Royton’s total, but a gung-ho approach instead of a considered start was to cost them dear.

Darren Graham was an early victim, caught behind by Gary Lees off Glen Dickinson, but professional Stoute, who had looked so devastating against Ashton the previous weekend, threatened to perform a similiar demolition job on Royton.

He dispatched Dickinson disdainfully for a four and six to extra cover, but his shot-a-ball approach proved to be his downfall in the next over when he skied a delivery from Luke Procter and Ian Helliwell took a good catch at mid-on to send the West Indian back to the pavilion for 16.

After informing Stoute where the pavilion was - the pair had exchanged words during Royton’s innings - a fired-up Procter took centre stage in his next over, clean bowling the dangerous Simon Wright and Searles.

The heart had been ripped out of the Crompton innings and a steady succession of wickets saw them bowled out in only 24.5 overs, a late highlight being Harmer’s brilliant running catch to dismiss Aqib Zulfiqar, who looked better than a number eight batsman during his knock of 30.

Procter finished with four for 46 and Dickinson four for 28, while skipper Lovell picked up the late wickets of Zulfiqar and Joe Roye without conceding a run.

Jayasinghe was in awesome form for the second successive weekend as he guided Oldham to a superb five-wickets win at his former club, Clifton.

Having bowled Clifton out for 172, Chris Lord top scoring with 46, Oldham knocked off the runs in style, new professional Jayasinghe smashing eight sixes in an unbeaten 143 in Oldham’s 173 for five.


     

WERNETH’S game at home to Littleborough ended in a frustrating draw with the game evenly poised.

Littleborough took first guard and made 190 for eight, Dave Thewlis hitting an unbeaten 50 and home professional Loku taking three for 51.

But an hour’s delay for rain meant the Werneth innings was always going to be cut short and the home side ended their overs on 176 for eight, Loku making a bold bid for victory with a knock of 79.

Saturday scores: Unsworth 98 (Makin 3-6), Norden 242-7 (Symes 60); Walsden 231-7 dec, Middleton 157-5, match drawn; Werneth 176-8 (Loku 79), Littleborough 190-8 (Thewlis 50 n.o., Loku 3-51), match drawn; Clifton 172 (Lord 46), Oldham 173-5 (Jayasinghe 136 n.o.); Heywood 209-5 (Peiris 51), Ashton 201 (Daniel 100, Cheetham 5-51); Milnrow 106 (Brown 56 n.o.), Radcliffe 107-1 (Gorsi 60); Rochdale 145 (Brierley 68, Duxbury 4-39), Monton and Weaste 149-7; Royton 199 (Harding 43, Ward 40, Stoute 4-68), Crompton 101 (Dickinson 4-28, Procter 4-46).     

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