Title hopefuls in weather watch

Crompton professional Kevin Stoute has shown he is a class act with the bat, but has still to reach three figures this season.

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THE great British summer – or rather lack of it – seems destined to have a crucial say in this season’s Lake Garage CLL title race.

Last Saturday’s wash-out of all the league fixtures was hugely damaging to some of the major contenders, none more so than Oldham.

Mel Whittle’s men, winners of their six previous matches, were due to play struggling Ashton, but torrential rain made play impossible.

Said Whittle: “We arrived at the ground to find ducks on the square and an inch of water on three wickets!

“But there is nothing you can do about the weather. You just have to take it in your stride.”

Perhaps Whittle was speaking through clenched teeth as the last thing an in-form team such as Oldham needs is an enforced break in the fixtures.

Having spent £5,000 on pitch and drainage improvements at the Pollards, Oldham have been reaping the benefits this season.

Only three of their games have been washed out, while the likes of Unsworth and Middleton have had nine affected and even leaders Heywood and third-placed Norden have suffered seven rain-hit fixtures.

Fingers will be crossed that the predicted downpours for the weekend fail to materialise as there are several matches which are likely to have a major bearing on the battle for honours.

Oldham entertain Unsworth at the Pollards on Saturday, with Whittle admitting: “They are always a difficult side to beat and their professional (Wayne Madsen) is a really good player.”

The following day brings a derby match at ROYTON, who will be keen to dent their local rivals’ title ambitions and improve their own chances of a decent finishing position.

First, though, Royton will travel to Monton and Weaste, who are on the fringes of the title race, but know that nothing less than victories in all their remaining matches is likely to suffice if they are to complete a league and Wood Cup double.

Second-placed CROMPTON are another team desperate to get on the field, especially as Saturday’s opponents at Glebe Street are leaders Heywood.

But prospects for the biggest game of the weekend are grim.

Said skipper Simon Wright: “It’s an absolute mess. It’s never been the best-draining pitch and the water table is so high that we can’t stand any more rain.”

Crompton have lost to Heywood twice this season and are desperate to produce their best form against Bobby Cross’s men.

The gap between the teams is six points, so Crompton’s need to get the game on is much greater than that of the current leaders.

Sunday’s forecast is marginally better, and Crompton will be hoping the weathermen are correct as they will view their game at struggling WERNETH as one they ought to win.

Wright is hoping that his side can pick their game up for the remaining eight fixtures.

“To be honest, if you had told me at the start of the season that we would be in this position I would have laughed at you,” he said.

“But if some of our players who have not been at their best can find their form then we are in with a chance.

“Our pro (West Indian Kevin Stoute) has not made the runs he has hoped for and really wants to get a couple of hundreds before he goes home.

“He has made six or seven fifties, but not the match-winning knock which you need from your pro.

“Having said that, he has taken more wickets than we thought he would so I suppose that evens it out.”

Werneth, who have a habit of winning derby games, have been out of form in recent weeks following a mid-season revival.

They are still ahead of Ashton and Middleton, but know that they have to win at least a couple of matches before the season ends if they are to keep it that way.

Andy Walker’s young team warm up for the Crompton clash with a fixture at Littleborough on Saturday.