Crompton enjoy derby success

MIX-UP: Werneth professional Pierre Joubert is run out against Crompton.

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CROMPTON have hardly been enjoying a fair crack of the whip during the first month of the Lake Garage CLL season, so they can justifiably claim it was about time fortune favoured them at Glebe Street on Saturday.

“With the way we have been batting, a 20-over game was probably just what we needed,” admitted skipper Glen Dawson as his team overturned recent form to defeat neighbours Werneth by five wickets and pick up four welcome points.

Having lost their previous game at Milnrow by three runs and been on the wrong end of some questionable umpiring decisions in recent weeks, Crompton knew their position near the bottom of the CLL was a false one.

And they proved that in style against a Werneth side who would have much preferred a full match, but who were ultimately soundly beaten despite a commendable late fightback which had home supporters biting their fingernails.

Heavy showers delayed the start of the match until 4.45pm and, after winning the toss, Dawson asked Werneth to bat on a pitch which had plenty of moisture in it.

Batting became progressively more difficult as the effects of the roller wore off and, but the pitch had nothing to do with a rare error of judgement by Werneth professional Pierre Joubert, who called for a suicidal run, was sent back by his skipper Andy Walker and was run out by a pinpoint throw from his opposite number Mohammed Zaman Khan for eight.

That was a huge blow for Werneth who, despite Walker’s bright and breezy 31, became bogged down and suffered the regular loss of wickets as the ball gripped on the Glebe Street surface.

Chief architect of their downfall was Simon Wright, who picked up five for 44 from 10 overs as the visitors were restricted to 94 for eight.

The early loss of overseas amateur Chris Boschoff, well caught at mid-wicket by opposite number Jeffrey Rogerson off Joubert, threatened to derail Crompton’s bid for victory, but Steven Wright and Zaman Khan steadied their nerves with a hard-hitting second-wicket stand of 73 which should have closed the door on Werneth.

But, in typical fashion for a Crompton side for whom things have gone pear shaped on more than one occasion this season, they suffered a wobble which saw them collapse from 81 for one to 83 for five.

Zaman Khan, who had scored a brisk 40, hit Rogerson to Joubert, running round from mid-off, Majid Khan was caught behind by Gary Lees off spinner Alan Durose and Wright (27) became Rogerson’s second victim when he gloved to Lees off one which lifted sharply.

Worse was to follow for Crompton when Danny Taylor was caught at mid-wicket by Rogerson off Durose, but the Werneth celebrations were abruptly silenced by Simon Wright who, fittingly, had the final say when he hit Rogerson for 10 off his last over, clinching the match with a flat-bat six over long-on.



ROYTON’S fortunes this season have mirrored those of Crompton so it was fitting that they, too, should secure a much-needed victory at Rochdale.

Star of the show was professional Luke Procter, who took five for 47 and hit a match-winning unbeaten 61 as Royton won a 35-over thriller by two wickets with two balls to spare.

Rochdale took first guard at Redbrook and were restricted to 125 for seven despite Eric Faulkner’s battling, unbeaten 41.

And, guided by Procter, Royton passed that score in their final over, John Punchard chipping in with 20 and Matthew Hodson scoring a vital 16 down the order.




OLDHAM were brushed aside by high-flying Middleton at the Pollards.



Chris McDonnell’s men collapsed to 54 all out after taking first guard as the in-form Rick Valentine (four for two) and profesional Ken Skewes (three for 11) ran amok.

Middleton made the runs they needed in quickfire fashion without losing a wicket, clinching maximum points in the process.

Ashton 144-8 (Makin 3-57), Norden 145-5 (H Fitton 66 not out) - 33 overs match; Heywood 221-3 (Cross 11, Hardman 43, Taylor 42), Clifton 94-3 - revised target of 122 from 20 overs; Littleborough 87-7 (Love 4-50), Unsworth 86 (Rushton 6-30, Smit 3-12); Crompton 95-5 (Khan 40, St Wright 27), Werneth 94-8 (Walker 31, Si Wright 5-44); Monton and Weaste 110-7 (Green 36, Lane 5-24), Milnrow 78-9 (Hamilton 4-26, Scott 3-14) - 20 overs match; Oldham 54 (Valentine 4-2, Skewes 3-11), Middleton 55-0; Radcliffe 72-0 v Walsden, rain stopped play; Rochdale 125-7 (Procter 5-47, Faulkner 41 n.o.), Royton 128-7 (Procter 61 n.o.) - 35 overs match.