Needham signs for Crompton

CRICKET: CROMPTON have signed 24-year-old Matthew Needham as their professional for the 2010 Lake Garage CLL season.

The South African, who also holds a British passport and will therefore be free of the strict regulations relating to work permits, replaces Mohammed Zaman Khan, who has left the club to join Darwen in the Northern League.

Needham, who hails from the same KwaZulu-Natal team as former Unsworth professional Wayne Madsen, is a medium quick bowler and top-order batsman.

Zaman Khan enjoyed an outstanding 2009 season for Crompton, scoring 1,109 runs at an average of 52.81 and taking 62 wickets at 18 apiece.

Meanwhile, Royton’s claims that medium fast bowler Ryan Mayes has joined them from Crompton have been refuted by the Glebe Street club.

Crompton spokesman Glenn Dawson said: “Ryan has been approached by Luke Procter (the Royton professional and new skipper), but he has certainly not decided what he is doing.

“We are not happy this has come out from Royton.”