Perfect Porteous is opening-day hero

HITTING OUT: Werneth’s Matthew Taylor.

CRICKET: ROYTON made a winning start in the Lake Garage CLL Premier Division thanks to a fine team performance at Clifton.

Royton made a competitive 196, opening batsman Khurram Hussain top scoring with 51, Alan Durose smashing a quickfire 48 and Craig Joy contributing an important 24 in the middle order.

Greg Jennings was the most effective Clifton bowler with four for 36.

Clifton threatened to reach their target when they cruised to 117 for one off 21 overs, but two Liam Brown wickets and a superb run out by pro Pieter Malan evened things out before 18-year-old spinner Callum Porteous took some vital scalps and ended up with five for 50 as the hosts were bowled out for 184.


WERNETH looked to be on course to emulate Royton when they made a highly-respectable 228 at home to Norden.

New overseas amateur Levi Thomson-Matthews scored an impressive 53, while last season's prolific run scorer Ali Muzaffer carried on from where he left off with a superb 80.

Werneth must have felt confident of defending their score, but they were blown away by Norden's new opening batsmen, Simon Harman and professional Daniel Salpietro.

Harman hit an unbeaten 108 and Salpietro 114 not out as Norden cantered to a 10-wickets victory.


CHAMPIONSHIP action saw victory for Crompton and defeat for Oldham. After professional Grant Edmeades hit 108 in a Middleton total of 214 for seven at Towncroft, Crompton replied with 217 for three. New pro Josh Tolley hit 84 and skipper Simon Wright 64, while Crompton’s other stand-out player was bowler Carl Taylor who took four for 51.

Oldham lost at Monton and Weaste who made 178 for seven in reply to 177 all out.