Royton fail as cup jinx strikes again

CELEBRATION . . . for Royton’s players following the wicket of Norden skipper Simon North.

CRICKET: 

SOME things just aren’t meant to be — and Royton winning the Wood Cup looks like one of them.

Royton's 11th and latest appearance in the final of the CLL's flagship competition provided a glorious chance to break their duck. But they were unable to grab it. Denny Hulme's side had a firm grip on the final when opponents and hot favourites Norden were wobbling on 70 for five. But Norden wriggled off the hook and ultimately proved too strong for the gallant local side.

Norden openers Simon Harman and Daniel Salpietro looked comfortable early on as Adam Good and Sam Fielding bowled a little too short.

But once the Royton pace men got their lengths right, batting became more difficult. Salpietro and Harman were both dropped, the former at cover by Alan Durose and Harman at slip by Carl Taylor, who was later to make amends in spades.

With Norden on 37, Royton were in desperate need of a wicket and, instead, they got two. A superb over by overseas amateur Fielding saw professional Salpietro caught by Aqib Zulfiqar at second slip, before the Royton bowler trapped Ashley Gowers leg before for a duck.

Harman was next to go with the total on 56, snared in front of his stumps by Taylor's swing and, five runs later, Norden skipper Simon North was caught at cover by Durose off Matt Smith, who had preceded his wicket-taking delivery with two wides. Steve Pimm was next to go, well caught round the corner by James Maurice-Scott off Taylor, and Royton really had their tails up.

But watching at the other end was the player who turned the course of the match. Cool and composed, Dan Buckley compiled an ultimately match-winning 45 as his team reached 158.

There were many wides and byes, and Royton would come to rue the 36 extras.

Taylor came back at the end of the innings to mop up the Norden tail and complete figures of five for 28 from nine overs, a fine effort on a pitch he used to the full.

One sensed Royton had let Norden off the hook to a degree – and so it proved. They made a poor start when Zulfiqar under-edged Martin Smith to wicketkeeper Gowers, but the real hammer blow came with the score on 26.

Professional Geeth Alwis, who had bowled with commendable control for his two for 18, took a crack on the finger from Chris Hartley just after dismissing the same bowler for four square of the wicket.

The five-minute delay for running repairs may have affected his concentration and the injury could have made him wary, but whatever he was feeling, the outcome was a disaster for Royton.

Smith, roaring in with great determination, got one through the Sri Lankan's defences and the off stump was uprooted.

Royton's best chance of reaching their target had gone for a paltry six and 26 for two became 34 for three when Durose, after dispatching Smith over mid-off for four, went the aeriel route again and was well snaffled at mid-on by Buckley off Smith.

More measured batting was needed with lots of overs to spare, but it never came. Tony Walsh, a star of Royton's cup run, played well, but not without alarm for his 27 before he was caught by Dean Lord at mid-on, then Maurice-Scott was adjudged caught behind off Hashim Malik, a decision with which he clearly did not concur.

Royton were in desperate straits, but at least they had their hero of the semi-final, skipper Hulme, in at number seven. But he was soon shaking his head when Liam Brown played a nothing shot off North and was caught easily at point by Pimm.

At 63 for six, much of Royton's woes had been self-inflicted but Hulme and Fielding at least provided resistance in a seventh-wicket stand of 29 before Hulme, who had smashed Norden pro Salpietro for a straight six, was bowled going for a repeat. It was the beginning of the end as Salpitero mopped up the lower order.

So the favourites had won and the Royton supporters who had turned out in force were left to reflect on what might have been. Royton had their chance but weren’t good enough. Norden and their team of all-stars were and that's why they were celebrating with the old trophy aloft on the Walsden CC balcony.

twitter: @KeithMcHughOC