Cassidy has title ambitions

CRICKET: WOODHOUSES captain Mike Cassidy believes the squad has the strength in depth to make a bid for the Lees Brewery Lancashire County League title.

New bowler Sam Sweeney, from East Lancs, enters the fold after spending winter playing for Glasshouse in Queensland.

He joins an impressive seam attack comprising Mansoor Elahi, Ashley Prescott and left-armer Nick Hardman.

Fast bowler Luke Swards, from Australia, has returned to Woodhouses following a two-year absence, while big things are also expected of new batsman Josh Tolley, who was in the same junior system as Sweeney at Chorley.

Cassidy said: “Our bowling attack could be the best in the league this time. I will be disappointed if we’re not up there challenging for the title come the end of the campaign.

“If the bowlers can do the business it will then depend on the likes of myself and Josh to show a bit of steel with the bat.

“I expect it to be the usual suspects battling it out at the top, Denton West and Denton St Lawrence are a threat but we will have a better idea of who else can challenge once the action starts and the form book takes shape.”

Woodhouses, who finished third in the table last season, travel to Dukinfield tomorrow, with Cassidy and Jimmy Clarke expected to open at Higher King Street, followed by Tolley at number three.

The skipper added: “We want to start as we mean to go on this weekend. “It will be a tough game. I’ve heard rumours that Ridee, their Sri Lankan overseas player, is stuck overseas due to the volcanic ash crisis but we’re going to plan as if he is playing.”