Green wrecks Royton’s dream

ROYTON were ground into John Willie Lees Wood Cup submission by a run machine by the name of Paul Green.

The Monton and Weaste opening batsman will set all sorts of amateur batting records in the Lake Garage CLL should he continue in his current vein.

Green’s unbeaten 80 on a wicket which always offered help for the bowlers steered Monton to a six-wicket win after they had bowled out Royton for 146.

He now has 776 runs for the season and it seems a formality that he will pass the 1,000 mark before July is over.

Royton battled well throught and never gave up, but they were always struggling to establish a foothold.

Young Danny Collins did the early damage for Monton, bowling Tony Walsh and Ryan Carters as the visitors were reduced to 26 for two.

But worse was to follow for Royton when in-form professional Luke Procter — who celebrates his 21st brithday on Wednesday — flashed at a Trent Scott delivery and feathered a catch to Chris Hindle behind the stumps.

John Punchard and Andrew Morris turned things around for Royton with a fourth-wicket stand of 59, but the introduction of six-feet eight-inch bowler David Hamilton sparked a Royton collapse to 101 for seven.

Hamilton bowled Morris and then had Simon Webb caught behind, but it was the dimissal of Punchard which proved the real dagger to Royton’s heart.

As expected from one so tall, Hamilton was getting plenty of bounce on a lively wicket and Punchard had no chance when a delivery spat off a length. In fact, he did well to get an edge on it and Hindle, who had dropped him on 17, was a relieved man when he held on this time.

Punchard had made 40, but despite some powerful hitting from Matthew Hodson, who smashed home professional Malinga Bandara for six during his 26 from 25 balls, Royton were bowled out for a total 30 or 40 runs shy of what they would have expected.

Hamilton finished with three for 15 from 10 overs, while there were two wickets apiece for Collins and Ashraf Gorsi.

Royton knew they needed early wickets if they were to induce any nerves in the home camp, but 27 runs were on the board before Naveed Din mistimed a drive off Punchard and was caught by Joe Lovell at mid-off.

But the big turning point of the match came with Green on eight. Walsh, who bowled nicely after being pressed into service, got one to move away from Green and the edge flew to Webb at slip.

Unfortunately, Webb’s reflexes were not quite up to the task and a chance — albeit a sharp one — went begging. How Green made Royton pay.

Webb clung on to a much easier chance when Scott top-edged a short Hodson delivery, while Lovell’s offspin earned him the wickets of Bandara, who was bowled, and Gorsi, caught at mid-off by Royton skipper Barry Woodward.

But Green’s progress was serene and it was fitting that he should hit the winning runs to steer his side into the semi-finals, a step nearer a successful defence of the trophy they won last season.

As for Royton, they did spill one or two catches, but there was no shame in defeat against a team full of potential matchwinners, and Woodward’s men will be determined to continue their successful recent spell in the league.

HEYWOOD will miss their first final for six years after losing to Rochdale at Redbrook, while Unsworth progressed with victory at Milnrow.

Other Wood Cup: Milnrow 138 (Power 51, Love 5-13), Unsworth 139-4 (Madsen 43); Rochdale 231-3 (Ayres 86, Weereratne 75 n.o), Heywood 221-5 (Pawson 58, Wallworth 54 n.o.).

Semi-finals: Crompton v Rochdale, Monton and Weaste v Unsworth. Ties to be played Sunday, July 5.