Derby rivals eye lead role

CRICKET: SHAW and Heyside will be vying for top spot in the Saddleworth and District Cricket League this weekend.

The annual Whit derbies dominate the programme — but it’s not only local bragging rights that are at stake on one particular double-header.

With leaders Bamford Fieldhouse enjoying two days off, Shaw and Heyside, in second and third respectively, will fancy their chances of reaching the summit.

Holebottom Clough, Shaw, is the venue for tomorrow’s confrontation, while the action switches to Little Hey Street on Sunday.

Shaw, with Steve Whiston at the helm, have lost two of their last three games, including the round-one Tanner Cup tie at Moorside last Saturday.

Heyside also bowed out at the first hurdle, but they made amends by beating Stayley 24 hours later.

A win for each team could let in fourth-placed Stayley, who meet improving Droylsden twice in as many days

The signing of Usman Malvi as professional has been an inspired choice, with the Pakistani among the leading run scorers and wicket-takers in the in the league this season.

The derby duels got under way today when Saddleworth entertained Greenfield.

The visitors could be fielding a deputy pro after Kamran Hussain, who is still in Pakistan, picked up an unknown injury.

Glodwick will have a new name in their ranks for the games against Hollinwood.

Batsman Stuart Fitton, who helped Shaw win the 2007 Tanner Cup and Twenty20 finals, has signed from Middleton in the CLL and will make his debut at Warren Lane tomorrow.

Matt Parkinson made his first-team bow for Glodwick last weekend — and he won’t forget it in a hurry.

The 16-year-old, who is 12th man this weekend,was called up for the match at Droylsden but, in the third over, he gashed his knee while fielding.

Instead of going to hospital to get it sorted out Matt, son of former captain Mark, played on.

And wearing a heavy bandage to protect the wound, he went on to win the game for Glodwick.

Matt, batting at number five, hit an unbeaten 44 to seal a six-wicket success.

But there was no time to celebrate his efforts as he went straight to hospital to have the cut cleaned out.

In the other double-headers, Austerlands, buoyed by hitting 300 runs in securing victory against Friarmere, lock horns with Moorside.

And in the battle of the bottom two, Friarmere have home advantage first against Uppermill.

BAMFORD Fieldhouse are away to Ramsbottom on Bank Holiday Monday in round two of the LCB Cup.




Fixtures —

Today: Saddleworth v Greenfield.

Tomorrow: Stayley v Droylsden; Glodwick v Hollinwood; Moorside v Austerlands; Friarmere v Uppermill; Shaw v Heyside; Greenfield v Saddleworth. Open date: Bamford Fieldhouse.

Sunday: Droylsden v Stayley; Hollinwood v Glodwick; Austerlands v Moorside; Uppermill v Friarmere; Heyside v Shaw. Open date: Bamford Fieldhouse.