Friarmere facing the moment of truth
Reporter: Kevin Richardson
Date published: 19 June 2009
Saddleworth League
CAPTAIN Gary Kershaw admits its make-or-break for Friarmere as they count down towards Sunday’s Tanner Cup tie at Glodwick.
The West View skipper sees the prestigious competition as their last chance for success this season.
Already out of the Twenty20 Cup and languishing in the bottom five of the Armstrongs Office Furniture Saddleworth and District Cricket League, Kershaw is hoping for an upturn in fortunes.
“It’s a huge game because our season is effectively over if we lose,” said Kershaw.
“I thought we did well to restrict Bamford Fieldhouse to 209 last weekend and I fancied us at that stage, but then five of our batsmen got out to long hops.
“We locked ourselves in the dressing room after that game and had a good chat.
“It’s really frustrating. I had high expectations before the start of the season, but we can’t get over the finishing line.
“We’re probably lacking in a bit of confidence, but one good win could change all that.”
Friarmere will take heart from their victory over their second-round opponents at the end of May and also Zafar Iqbal’s record at Warren Lane.
The overseas amateur, from Pakistan, smashed a century at Glodwick last season, while in Mohammed Azam Friarmere possess a bowler in fine form.
The tall paceman, who previously played for Linthwaite and Marsden in the Huddersfield League, claimed three for 51 from 11 overs against Bamford. He is also capable of scoring quick runs.
Friarmere were the inaugural league winners in 1899 and they meet new members in Glodwick, who joined in 2007.
They have found their feet after a shaky start in which they won only two matches in their first season.
Glodwick are targeting a first-ever Tanner Cup semi-final, while they sit a highly-respectable fifth in the table.
In Pakistani professional Imran Aslam, they boast last year’s leading wicket-taker. He is also beginning to make his mark with the bat, scoring his second ton of the summer against Droylsden last weekend.
But captain Nigel Stock insists his side are far from a one-man band.
He explained: “We’re very lucky to have him, because he is the best bowler in the league and he could walk into any team.
“But we’ve got quite a strong unit this season. Mark Whitehead and Abid Hussain are also taking wickets, while nearly all of the batsmen are chipping in with runs.
“We finished seventh in the league last season, so we’ll be looking to improve on that, while a place in the semi-finals of the Tanner Cup is well within our reach.”
Bamford Fieldhouse, the league leaders, are at home to Greenfield in a repeat of the 2004 final, which the latter won comfortably.
Of the other ties, Uppermill play host to Stayley, while Saddleworth go to Hollinwood.
The pick of tomorrow’s league programme sees fourth-placed Hollinwood visit Bamford, a team who are still unbeaten.
Tomorrow: Austerlands v Heyside; Bamford Fieldhouse v Hollinwood; Greenfield v Glodwick; Moorside v Stayley; Shaw v Saddleworth; Uppermill v Droylsden. Open date: Friarmere.
Sunday — Tanner Cup, round two: Glodwick v Friarmere; Bamford Fieldhouse v Greenfield; Uppermill v Stayley; Hollinwood v Saddleworth.
Moore Cup, round two: Friarmere v Glodwick; Greenfield v Bamford Fieldhouse; Stayley v Moorside; Shaw v Hollinwood.
