Derby rivals in shoot-out

IT’S winner takes all at the Pollards tomorrow night when Oldham host Royton in a John Willie Lees Twenty20 Competition derby showdown.

The final group fixtures in this year’s slogfest have thrown up a host of possible scenarios, but for Oldham and Royton the picture is crystal clear – win and a place in the quarter-final is theirs.

Torrential rain on the opening night of the competition resulted in bowl-outs and the tossing of coins to decide winners.

But all the matches were completed last Friday when the South-East section saw Oldham win at Ashton and Werneth defeat Royton at the Coppice.

Having won both their games, Werneth are already through as only one more team can match their record of two wins.

Those teams are Oldham and Royton, who have both beaten Ashton and will go head to head tomorrow night (6.15).

Crompton are in the North-East section which has several possible outcomes.

Littleborough have won both their games, but are not guaranteed a quarter-final place.

Should they lose to Walsden and Crompton beat Milnrow, then three teams would be level on four points and the two qualifiers would be decided by their run rates over the two group matches.

Crompton could still qualify even were they to lose to Milnrow. Under that scenario, Boro would have to beat Walsden, leaving three teams on two points and the calculators needed once again.

The North-West section is simpler as all four teams have won one game apiece.

That means the winners of Heywood v Rochdale and Middleton v Norden will progress.

The South-West section is less clear-cut. Clifton, with two wins, are favourites to qualify, but are not certainties.

Should they lose to Unsworth and Radcliffe beat Monton and Weaste, then run rate will come into it.

At least all the clubs – bar Werneth, who are already through – will know their fate by 9pm tomorrow.