Day of misery

CRICKET: BLACK Saturday saw all four of our local clubs slump to defeat in the Lake Garage CLL.

Oldham lost at Middleton (see story above), while Crompton were thumped at home by Littleborough, Royton let a match-winning opportunity slip at Milnrow and Werneth suffered at the hands of Rochdale at the Coppice.

CROMPTON were punished by Boro professional Clinton Perren, who made a superb 148 in his side’s 277 for four. Gary Hulme gave fine support with 78.

In reply, Crompton were dismissed for only 83 as Brendan Miskella captured four wickets for 12 and overseas amateur Worron Williams picked up three for 16.

ROYTON had Milnrow on the ropes at Ladyhouse where the home side were reduced to 70 for six, Ryan Mayes taking five of those wickets.

But Dean Lord (52) and Jon Storey (47) led a counterattack which was so potent that Milnrow ended their 50 overs on 244 for nine. Mayes finished with six for 79.

Despite an unbeaten 63 from Simon Brierley, returning to the club for whom he played last season, Royton were never in the hunt as they crashed to 150 all out, home professional Kuldeep Diwan taking four for 24.

WERNETH were swept away by an avalanche of Rochdale runs at the Coppice.

Adam Smith (84), Daz Cryer (76) and Dominic Ayres (47) were the main contributors in the visitors’ 283 for eight. Mark Dronsfield took five for 56.

And even though Alan Durose made 40, Werneth were always fighting a losing battle in reply.

They were bowled out for only 145, Greg Butterworth doing most of the damage with identical figures to Dronsfield.

Elsewhere, there was a huge shock at Ashton, where the bottom club beat leaders Norden by 42 runs. Norden had gone into the game with maximum points from their first six fixtures.

Scores —

Ashton 228-9 (Karan 69, Naveed 37, Price 4-36, Makin 3-53), Norden 186 (Tattersall 33, Collinson 30, Zaman 4-50); Clifton 149 (Puchert 39, Grogan 4-56), Heywood 150-6 (Cross 77 n.o., Wallwork 33); Crompton 83 (Miskella 4-12, Williams 3-16), Littleborough 277-4 (Perren 148, Hulme 78); Milnrow 244-9 (Lord 52, Storey 47, Mayes 6-79), Royton 150 (Brierley 63 n.o., Diwan 4-24); Monton and Weaste 230-6 (Green 103 n.o., Costa 71, Burns 3-47), Radcliffe 127 (Greaves 5-49, Scott 3-54); Unsworth 230-5 (Flowers 71, Wiggans 40), Walsden 226-8 (Perera 108 n.o., Rawlinson 40, Flowers 6-26); Werneth 145 (Durose 40, G Butterworth 5-56), Rochdale 283-8 (Smith 84, Cryer 76, Ayres 47, M Dronsfield 5-56).