Royton’s date with destiny

STAND UP AND BE COUNTED . . . big things are expected from Royton professional Luke Procter

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Cricket

Lake Garage CLL

ROYTON could hardly be in better spirits as they prepare for a huge weekend of league and cup action.

With six wins from their last seven matches, the Paddock outfit are the in-form team of the Lake Garage CLL.

But their credentials will be tested to the limit this weekend.

Tomorrow they entertain league leaders Heywood, while Sunday sees Royton travel to Monton and Weaste for a John Willie Lees Wood Cup quarter-final.

Skipper Barry Woodward is delighted with Royton’s recent form but is understandably keen to ensure feet are kept on the ground.

“We are obviously confident at the moment and things are going very well.

“Every player in the first-team squad was at practice on Tuesday night and the whole club is buzzing.

“Luke (Procter) has been the catalyst for our success, but every match has seen someone chip in.”

Woodward has plenty of respect for tomorrow’s opponents, Heywood, who have been winning despite missing key personnel.

The lack of a regular professional following Ruvin Peiris’s work permit problems has caused a headache for the Crimble side, but the signing of Zimbabwe’s Brendan Taylor until the end of the season has brought some stability.

With one eye on Sunday, Woodward is likely to use several bowlers tomorrow as at least five must be employed in the Wood Cup.

Young offspinner Joe Lovell steps down to the second team in order to get a longer bowl, but will return on Sunday.

While the league match is clearly important, there is no doubt that Royton already have one eye on Sunday’s cup showdown at Monton.

Trent Scott’s men won the trophy with victory over Heywood in the final at Werneth last season and will be tough nuts to crack on home turf.

That said, Royton avenged a home defeat against Monton a few weeks ago and, in their current mood, have every reason to believe they can book a place in the semi-finals on Sunday, July 5.

“We are going into the game in as good shape as we can be,” said the skipper.


CROMPTON beat Clifton in last weekend’s Wood Cup dress rehearsal – now they need an action replay in the real thing.

Glenn Dawson’s men were on the back foot for much of Saturday’s league match at Glebe Street, the visitors having made 242 for eight and taken three early wickets.

But Simon Wright’s measured unbeaten 106 and a rapid 62 from Majid Khan helped to clinch victory for Crompton, who will carry the confidence from that success into Sunday’s home tie.

“Simon batted superbly,” said Dawson. “He doesn’t normally open and had bowled 15 overs, but we were chasing such a big total that the idea was for him to go in and have a bit of a bang.

“Then we lost three quick wickets so Simon had to drop anchor and it was Majid Khan who really got us going.

“Simon was 33 when Majid went in, but Majid got to his 50 first.”

More of the same will do nicely for Crompton on Sunday, but Dawson has no doubt where the biggest danger lies.

“Their pro, Adil Nisar, is a really good player and we need to get him out as quickly as we can.

“We got him pretty early on Saturday and were probably guilty of relaxing which is why they scored so many.”

Dawson is looking for a big performance from professional Mohammed Zaman Khan, who has been disappointing with the bat since scoring a century at Royton last month.

And he has seven bowlers at his disposal following the decision to promote second-team captain Carl Taylor.

The medium pace bowler complements an attack which also includes Aqib Zulfiqar, Ryan Mayes, the two Khans, Chris Boschoff and Simon Wright.


WERNETH and OLDHAM are out of the Wood Cup, but both will be out to post league victories.

Oldham will be hoping Clifton have one eye on the Wood Cup at Manchester Road tomorrow, while Werneth need to end their recent slump when they entertain a Rochdale side showing improved form of late and also facing a cup-tie on Sunday.

TONIGHT (John Willie Lees Twenty20 competition, 6.15): Clifton v Unsworth, Monton and Weaste v Radcliffe, Heywood v Rochdale, Middleton v Norden, Oldham v Royton, Werneth v Ashton, Milnrow v Crompton, Walsden v Littleborough.

TOMORROW (1.45pm): Clifton v Oldham, Middleton v Monton and Weaste, Milnrow v Radcliffe, Norden v Littleborough, Royton v Heywood, Unsworth v Crompton, Walsden v Ashton, Werneth v Rochdale.

SUNDAY (Wood Cup, 1.30pm): Milnrow v Unsworth, Rochdale v Heywood, Monton and Weaste v Royton, Crompton v Clifton.