Weekend of misery for local clubs

CRICKET: IT really can't get much worse for our four local Lake Garage CLL clubs.

After the previous weekend's defeats for Werneth, Oldham, Royton and Crompton, hopes were high for a return to winning ways.

But there was only misery in large portions as all four suffered league defeats on Saturday and, worse still, John Willie Lees Wood Cup exits yesterday.

That took their combined record to 12 defeats in their last 12 outings, a depressing statistic and one which local amateur cricket followers will find hard to come to terms with.

Of the cup hopefuls, only OLDHAM promised anything other than defeat.

Vice-captain Paul Thompson made a splendid unbeaten 96 in their 212 for six at Middleton, but the home side knocked the runs off for the loss of only four wickets, deputy professional Peter Fulton of Cleethorpes CC hitting an unbeaten 93.

CROMPTON got little change out of Unsworth at Glebe Street, being restricted to 166 for six after taking first guard. Aqib Zulfiqar hit 44 and Alan Whiston 35.

That total proved to be well within Unsworth's reach, under-18s player Andrew Gregoriou scoring 88 and professional Calvin Flowers an unbeaten 40.

ROYTON were similiarly brushed aside at Milnrow.

Matthew Ward top scored with 34 in a total of 168, while Milnrow breezed to a seven-wicket win thanks to Alex Scholefield's 73 and Paul Winrow's 65.

The local tale of woe was completed at the Coppice where WERNETH suffered an 85-runs defeat against Clifton, for whom Andy Griffiths hit 125 and professional Hendro Puchert 43 in a massive 303 for eight.

In reply, Mark Dronsfield scored 47, Alan Durose 39 and Michael Wilson an unbeaten 31, but Werneth were always behind the required run rate and were finally dismissed for 218.

Elsewhere, there were surprise defeats for defending champions Monton and Weaste (at Walsden) and league leaders Norden (at Littleborough).

n SATURDAY'S action provided an equally-gloomy local picture.

Reigning champions Monton and Weaste were restricted to 161 for nine at Oldham – Mel Whittle five for 79 and Mohammed Hanif four for 78 – but the hosts were skittled for a paltry 55 as Trent Scott (five for 27) led the onslaught.

Royton were in with a shout after restricting Clifton to 182 at the Paddock – Chris Lord hitting 59 and Adam Rodzoch 52 – as professional Luke Procter took six for 44 and Ryan Mayes three for 81.

But Royton were dismissed for only 115 despite Procter's 45. Professional Puchert took seven for 51.

Crompton were blown away by Norden at Woodhouse Lane.

After being bowled out for 103, professional Michael Price taking six for 43, Crompton could do nothing as the hosts raced to 104-1, Price hitting an unbeaten 67.

Werneth were always flighting a losing battle at Heywood after being bowled out for 162, home professional Rajat Bhatia taking four for 24.

Heywood reached their target for the loss of five wickets, opening batsman Bobby Cross controlling matters with an unbeaten 63.

Saturday: Heywood 163-5 (Cross 63 n.o.), Werneth 162 (Bhatia 4-24); Littleborough 198-7 (Perren 70), Ashton 158 (Kadodia 58, Deakin 6-38); Norden 104-1 (Price 67 n.o.), Crompton 103 (Price 6-43); Oldham 55 (Scott 5-27), Monton and Weaste 161-9 (Hamilton 38, Whittle 5-79, Hanif 4-78); Radcliffe 128-3 (Murtaza 56 n.o.), Middleton 127 (Shah 5-30); Rochdale 251-9 (Spearman 145, Fowler 5-99), Unsworth 108; Royton 115 (Procter 45, Puchert 7-51), Clifton 182 (Lord 59, Ad Rodzoch 52, Procter 6-44, Mayes 3-81); Walsden 177 (Perera 83, Tokas 6-80); Milnrow 324 (Scholefield 108, Fletcher 48, Perera 5-77).

Sunday (Wood Cup first round): Littleborough 204-1 (Perren 96 n.o., Williams 86 n.o..), Norden 203 (Poole 52, H Fitton 50, Deakin 3-27, Phewlis 3-42); Heywood 213 (Cross 78), Ashton 115 (Zaman 32, Kaye 4-21); Middleton 213-4 (Fulton 93 n.o.), Oldham 212-6 (Thompson 96 n.o.); Milnrow 170-3 (Scholefield 73, Winrow 65), Royton 168 (Ward 34); Crompton 166-6 (Aq Zulfiqar 44, Whiston 35), Unsworth 167-2 (Gregoriou 88, Flowers 40 n.o.); Rochdale 180-8 (Ayres 35, Ul-Haq 3-39); Radcliffe 176 (Malik 54 n.o., T Avery 3-32, G Butterworth 3-33); Werneth 218 (M Dronsfield 47, Durose 39, Wilson 31 n.o., Alex Rodzoch 3-36, Hough 3-34), Clifton 303-8 (Griffiths 125, Puchert 43, Durose 3-32, M Dronsfield 3-66); Walsden 259-6 (Rawlinson 137), Monton and Weaste 255-9 (Green 99, Scott 53, Gorsi 41, Perera 6-36).