Steeple keeps a cool head

A THRILLING one-wicket win at Rochdale has kept Roytonians in the hunt for top honours in division two of the Site Electrical North Manchester League.

Dave Steeple was the hero, the number eight batsman holding his nerve to score an unbeaten 29.

The home side were restricted to 155 for nine, mainly thanks to Russ Billing’s return of two for 43 from 16 overs.

At 128 for nine, Roytonians looked down and out but Steeple and Michael Kenworthy added 27 for the last wicket to deny Rochdale.

Saddleworth thirds remain on the heels of the leaders in division three after a three-wicket win over their Elton counterparts.

The Well-i-Hole outfit are six points adrift of pacesetters East Lancs PM seconds, but have three games in hand.

There was double disappointment in division four, where Springhead suffered a 36-run defeat at the hands of leaders Elton Vale seconds and Uppermill lost by 37 runs to Blackley seconds.

Scores are —

Saturday, division one: Failsworth Macedonia v Tottington St Johns — no play, rain. Division three: Robinsons IIs v Greenfield IIIs — no play, rain.

Sunday, division two: Rochdale IIIs 154-9, Roytonians 155-9. Division three: Saddleworth IIIs 129-7, Elton IIIs 125. Division four: Elton Vale IIs 139, Springhead IIs 103; Uppermill IIIs 126, Blackley IIs 163.