Matt rallies troops for crunch clash

The Heyside team for the 2008 season

 THERE is plenty at stake in the Armstrongs Office Furniture Saddleworth and District Cricket League this weekend.

From precious points, to a cup semi-final, to the first major honour of the season, everywhere you look there are matches of huge significance taking place.

The stand-out league fixture is between the two top teams in division one, Heyside and Uppermill.

Sunday sees the culmination of the Twenty20 competition and a Tanner Cup semi-final tie, with Bamford Fieldhouse playing host to Friarmere.

Tomorrow’s first versus second clash at Little Hey Street offers Uppermill an ideal chance to narrow the gap on the long-time leaders.

Trailing by 21 points, Saturday’s showdown could see Matt Taylor’s troops make significant inroads into Heyside’s advantage.

The eagerly-awaited encounter features two players at the top of their games — Uppermill’s overseas amateur Zeeshan Khan and Heyside professional Roelof Hugo.

South African Hugo is closing in fast on 1,000 runs for the season — he is currently on 887 — after piling up 185 not out against Friarmere last weekend.

Khan, meanwhile, has been a model of consistency in his first year at Leefields.

The Pakistani all-rounder and former paid man at Farnworth Social Circle has been unbeaten on five occasions in 12 innings. He has scored nearly 700 runs in the process and has helped his side to seven successive wins the league.

Taylor, who replaced James Baron as captain at the end of May, is full of praise for Khan’s efforts and of the team as a whole.

He said: “I can’t speak highly enough of Zeeshan. His attitude on the pitch, in the dressing room and at training has been fabulous.

“I made one or two changes when I took over and the players have responded in a positive way.

“Training is a lot different to what it used to be and the players seem to enjoy it.

“I don’t have to tell them to do a lap of the ground anymore. They turn up and do it.

“When we are netting, the batsmen bat in sessions and the bowlers bowl spells. We don’t have the batsmen sending down little off-spinners, because that is just a waste of everybody’s time.

“Judging by our recent results, the work is paying off.”

Stung by their Cockspur Cup exit at the hands of Farnworth, third-placed Bamford will look to bounce back at Shaw tomorrow.

Austerlands, in fourth, visit a Greenfield side still without the services of the suspended Ryan Nurse while Moorside, who are next in the table, play host to Friarmere.

Saddleworth are seeking a third straight win at Stayley and Hollinwood go to Droylsden.

Of more importance to Hollinwood is the climax of the Twenty20 competition on Sunday.

John Winterbottom’s men play host club Uppermill in the second semi-final at 1.30pm.

The action gets under way at 10.30am, with holders Shaw taking on Moorside. The final is scheduled to start at 4.30pm.

Four miles outside of Rochdale town centre, Bamford Fieldhouse and Friarmere will lock horns in a re-arranged Tanner Cup semi-final tie.

The home side hold a 1-0 advantage over their opponents in the league this season, but the visitors from West View are more than capable of causing an upset.

Andy Barton’s boys slipped up at this stage 12 months ago when they were beaten by Shaw, who went on to lift the cup, and they will be hoping lightning does not strike twice.

The winners will play Heyside in the final on Sunday, August 17.