Royton hold key for neighbours

ROYTON can do their neighbours Crompton and Oldham a huge favour by beating Heywood at the Coppice tomorrow.

The Crimble outfit will be smarting after being defeated by Monton and Weaste in Sunday’s Wood Cup final.

And, boasting a six-points lead at the top of the table, Heywood will be desperate to ram home their advantage in the title race with only nine games remaining.

However, Royton defeated Heywood on their own patch earlier this season when skipper Guy Lovell – who returns from injury this weekend – successfully employed strangulation tactics on their top-order batsmen.

More of the same would do nicely for Royton, whose own challenge for honours has faltered in recent weeks.

In contrast, fourth-placed Oldham can do little wrong and, weather permitting, should make it seven wins in a row at second-from-bottom Ashton.

Fresh from comfortable victories over title rivals Crompton and Norden, Oldham’s confidence will be sky high and it’s hard to see experienced skipper Mel Whittle allowing complacency to creep in among his troops.

Second-placed Crompton, however, have been going through a sticky patch, losing at home to Oldham and being reduced to 15 for three by Monton last Saturday when rain came to their rescue.

They have a tough game at Radcliffe tomorrow and skipper Simon Wright must galvanise his troops if they are to maintain their title push.

Another captain with a real job on his hands is Werneth’s Andy Walker, whose side were skittled for only 30 at Milnrow last weekend.

Unsworth are the visitors to the Coppice tomorrow and that means an appearance by Wayne Madsen, the visitors’ paid man whose ultra-consistent batting performances during the last two seasons have clinched a succession of wins for his team.




MONTON and Weaste bid to add the Burton Cup to their Wood Cup triumph when they entertain Littleborough in the final on Sunday (1.30pm).



But in an uncanny parallel with the Wood Cup final, in which Heywood had such an impressive track record, Monton will be underdogs as Boro have lifted the trophy for the last six seasons.