Crompton face acid test

CROMPTON professional Josh Tolley will be looking for a big score against Championship leaders Monton and Weaste on Sunday.

CRICKET: MONTON and Weaste ended Crompton’s winning streak last weekend, but a quirk in the fixture list gives Simon Wright’s promotion hopefuls an instant chance to put the record straight.

Crompton lost a match they dominated for long spells at Monton, so Sunday’s home Championship fixture should be approached with confidence,

especially given the team’s 12-match unbeaten run which preceded that setback.

There is little room for manouevre if Crompton are to achieve their aim of going up to the Premier Division, but for Oldham it’s merely a case of

trying to achieve some end-of-season respectability after a series of batting nightmares.

Radcliffe are the visitors to the Pollards on Sunday and a total in three figures for Rashid’s men would provide some welcome respite.

The battle for Premier Division survival continues as Werneth, who defeated the top two clubs last weekend, have a repeat showdown with Walsden, but this time on away territory.

Professional Mohammed Zaman Khan’s unbeaten century and a dazzling 84 not out from skipper Matt Taylor set up Sunday’s victory over Walsden at the Coppice and more of the same would do very nicely.

Royton are almost safe from the drop and, having beaten Littleborough at Hare Hill in their last

fixture, they should be confident of a repeat show at home.

SUNDAY: Premier Division: Heywood v Rochdale; Norden v Clifton; Royton v Littleborough; Walsden v Werneth. Championship: Crompton v Monton and Weaste; Milnrow v Ashton; Oldham v Radcliffe; Unsworth v Middleton.