Crunch time for Royton
Reporter: KEITH McHUGH
Date published: 23 July 2009
ROYTON are hoping it will be three and easy in the Lake Garage CLL this weekend.
The Paddock men, for whom professional Luke Procter is expected to be fit following a groin injury, face three matches which could define their season.
First up is a John Willie Lees Twenty20 Competition semi-final at Clifton tomorrow night (6.15).
Saturday sees Royton travel to bottom club Radcliffe, while 24 hours later Oldham visit The Paddock for a derby clash which gives the hosts the chance to avenge last month’s defeat at The Pollards.
The significance of the next few days is not lost on Royton skipper Barry Woodward, who is hoping for a clear run on the weather front.
“The Twenty20 semi-final is the big one for us and obviously we want to get it played and won. The ideal outcome would be a home game against Werneth in the final,” he said.
“But the weather forecast is not great. Even if it is off, though, we would still have plenty of Fridays on which to play the game as the final has been set for September 12.
“We don’t want to go down the road of bowl-offs or tossing coins.”
Woodward was bemused that the CLL rearranged the Clifton match for last Sunday morning at 10.30 after it was rained off on the previous Friday evening.
More downpours scuppered the Sunday plan, but Woodward said: “I thought the whole idea of the competition was to raise money for clubs so it did surprise me that they organised it for Sunday morning.”
This Saturday’s trip to Radcliffe is viewed as a must-win game against a team who have won only two of their 18 league games and are propping up the rest.
“The key is to dismiss their pro (Usman Tariq) cheaply,” said the Royton skipper.
As for Sunday’s home game against struggling Oldham, Royton will be hoping for better luck than they enjoyed at the Pollards, where they made 222 for two from their 50 overs before rain intervened.
Oldham were set a revised target of 139 from 20 overs which, although no easy task, proved to be within their powers.
“Form goes out of the window in these matches,” said Woodward.
“It’s all on the day and who wants it most. We will give Oldham the utmost respect.”
