Crompton take derby revenge
Reporter: TONY BUGBY
Date published: 13 July 2009
CROMPTON produced an inspired display at Werneth in the Lake Garage CLL as their 78-run victory ensured they did not suffer a second derby defeat at The Coppice in the space of 24 hours.
Werneth went into the league match in high spirits having the previous night vanquished Crompton by 41 runs in the quarter-finals of the John Willie Lees Twenty20 Competition.
But the Glebe Street side experienced an upturn in fortunes as they returned to winning ways at the end of a difficult week in which they were also beaten by Rochdale in the semi-finals of the John Willie Lees Wood Cup.
And the victory at The Coppice was largely down to the endeavours of two Crompton players - Simon Wright with the bat and Ryan Mayes with the ball.
Wright produced a masterful display with the bat, top scoring with 83 out of a total of 250 for eight, his half century coming from 88 balls in 72 minutes in the middle. Overseas amateur Chris Boschoff contributed a useful 30.
Alan Durose was the pick of the Werneth bowlers, capturing four wickets, though they came at some expense as he conceded 94 runs.
Werneth must have thought they had victory secured after reaching 134 for one, Jon Slater eventually going on to top score with 83.
Mayes then got to work by ripping through the Werneth batting on the way to a career-best bowling return of seven wickets for 54 runs from 14.5 overs.
Muhammed Zaman Khan also weighed in with three for 58.
ROYTON recovered from their previous week’s mauling at the hands of Norden’s South African professional Jean Symes as they beat bottom-club Radcliffe by 12 runs at The Paddock.
Aussie overseas amateur Ryan Carters followed his previous night’s 80 in the Twenty20 with another fine knock of 79.
That, along with 38 from David Wilson and 23 from Tony Walsh, helped Royton reach 172 for three.
Carters and Walsh put on 70 runs for the third wicket as their partnership proved the cornerstone of the innings.
It was then the turn of John Punchard, more renowned for his exploits as a batsman, to prove a demon bowler.
The veteran slow bowler claimed eight wickets for 75 runs as Radcliffe were bowled out for 160, Gibson making 35 and Tariq 34.
OLDHAM were no match for Middleton, where they lost by eight wickets.
Captain Chris McDonnell top scored with 72 and Paul Thompson thumped 59 as Oldham totalled a creditable 228 all out.
However, Middleton reached their target with ease, making 231 for two, local lad Scott Stanworth top scoring with 76 not out.
There were also key contributions from professional Ken Skewes (60) and Grant Jones (56 not out).
Leaders HEYWOOD’S relentless charge towards another league title continued with an emphatic eight-wicket win at Clifton.
Robert Slawson took five wickets for 61 as Clifton were bowled out for 160.
Heywood won with effortless ease, making 163 for two as Tom Hardman hit 77 not out and Royce Blight 49 not out.
SCORES: Clifton 160 (Slawson 5-61), Heywood 163-2 (Hardman 77 n.o., Blight 49 n.o.); Middleton 231-2 (Stanworth 76 n.o., Skewes 62, Jones 56 n.o.), Oldham 228 (McDonnell 72, Thompson 59); Milnrow 164 (Power 71), Monton & Weaste 165-5 (Gorsi 80 n.o., Din 52); Norden 212-6 (Malik 93), Ashton 208-9 (Hodge 48); Royton 172-3 (Carters 79), Radcliffe 160 (Punchard 8-75); Unsworth 220-8 (Madsen 91), Littleborough 270-4 (Smit 144, Forden 52); Walsden 77, Rochdale 183 (Ayres 58); Werneth 172 (Slater 83, Mayes 7-54), Crompton 250-8 (Si Wright 83).
