Procter shows star quality as Royton reach last eight

LUKE PROCTER was the toast of the Paddock last night after guiding Royton into the quarter-finals of the John Willie Lees Wood Cup.

Visitors Middleton must have thought they had one foot in the quarter-finals after making 243 for six, Danny Core hitting 68 and professional Ken Skewes 49.

But Procter had other ideas. The Lancashire second-teamer controlled the Royton reply, compiling a superb 108 not out as the home team passed Middleton’s total with three wickets and one ball to spare.

Also through to round two are Crompton, who turned around recent form with Walsden by recording a convincing 60-run victory at Glebe Street.

Simon Wright hit an unbeaten 87 as Crompton made 187 for seven after batting first. David Blake was the pick of the Walsden bowlers with four for 30.

In reply, Walsden were skittled for only 127, young Aqib Zulfiqar taking three for five from seven superb overs.

Oldham failed to repeat their heroics of the previous day as they crashed out of the competition at an Adil Nisar-inspired Clifton.

The home profesional hit 128 in a huge total of 315 for six after Clifton batted first. Alex Rodzoch scored 68, while Oldham professional Mel Whittle collected five for 48.

In reply, Oldham were bowled out for 187 despite 56 from skipper Chris McDonnell and 50 from Rod Moran. Adam Rodzoch was their destroyer with six for 35.

Elsewhere, there were wins for Monton and Weaste, Milnrow, Unsworth and Rochdale, the latter by a single run at Littleborough.

Wood Cup scores: Monton and Weaste 275-7 (Green 68, Scott 57, Din 49, Gorsi 46 n.o.), Ashton 177 (Gaskin 39); Clifton 315-6 (Nisar 128, Alex Rodzoch 68, Lord 46, Whittle 5-48), Oldham 187 (McDonnell 56, Moran 50, Adam Rodzoch 6-35); Royton 247-7 (Procter 108), Middleton 243-6 (Core 68, Skewes 49); Crompton 187-7 (Si Wright 87 n.o., Blake 4-30), Walsden 127 (Zulfiqar 3-5); Milnrow 138-2 (Weise 65 n.o., Power 43 n.o.), Norden 135 (Arthur 46, Jennings 3-29, J Storey 3-33); Littleborough 234-9 (Thewlis 81 n.o., Smit 58, Javed 3-41), Rochdale 235-5 (Javed 150); Radcliffe 213 (Tariq 79, Mahboob 73, Wiggans 4-43, Maxwell 3-33), Unsworth 214-7 (Madsen 107, Entwistle 46 n.o, Burns 3-43).

The draw for the quarter-finals on Sunday, June 21, is: Milnrow v Unsworth, Rochdale v Heywood, Monton and Weaste v Royton, Crompton v Clifton.