Slater leads way for Werneth

PUT IT THERE: Crompton players celebrate the wicket of Royton’s Simon Brierley.

CRICKET: JON SLATER hit a fine 86 as Werneth returned to winning ways at the expense of struggling Ashton at the Coppice on Saturday.

Slater’s knock came in a Werneth total of 229 for nine, Franco Lenhardt hitting 32 on his return to the side.

Ashton were then skittled for 134 despite overseas amateur Donovan Lovell hitting 52 to complement bowling figures of three for 53.

Chief destroyer for Werneth was Mark Dronsfield, who is having a superb season with the ball and was outstanding once again with five for 26. Alan Durose chipped in with three for 30.


OLDHAM must have thought they were in with a chance at leaders Rochdale after batting first and making 219. Paul Thompson top scored with 63, while veteran spinner Neil Avery took five for 64.

However, Rochdale were always in control thanks to professional Craig Spearman’s unbeaten 104 and 42 from Daz Cryer.

CROMPTON were blown away at Walsden, for whom James Driver took four for 42 as the visitors were dismissed for 137.

Then it became the James Rawlinson show, the opener blasting an unbeaten 102 off only 58 balls as Walsden passed the Crompton total without losing a wicket.

Rawlinson crashed seven sixes and 12 fours in his whirlwind knock.

Professional Clinton Perren starred yet again for Littleborough as the Hare Hill side won by 87 runs at ROYTON.

Perren, already way past 1,000 runs for the season, hit 107 as Boro made 244 for six. Mark Forden chipped in with 56, while Ryan Mayes was the pick of the Royton bowlers with four for 59.

Royton were then bowled out for 157, young Tom Culshaw taking five for 55 and the evergreen Phil Deakin claiming four for 32.

Scores —

Clifton 173 (Morris 58 n.o., Price 4-26), Norden 232 (Price 107, Hough 6-70); Heywood 210-7 (Cross 81, Ul-Haq 4-77), Radcliffe 206 (Ul-Haq 75, Bhatia 3-40); Milnrow 162-2 (Winrow 83 n.o.), Monton and Weaste 161 (Hamilton 60, Diwan 7-68); Rochdale 223-3 (Spearman 104 n.o., Cryer 42), Oldham 219 (Thompson 63, N Avery 5-64); Royton 157 (Culshaw 5-55, Deakin 4-31), Littleborough 244-6 (Perren 107, Forden 56, Mayes 4-59); Unsworth 164 (Highton 6-73), Middleton 272 (Smith 166, Roberts 49, Fowler 6-70); Walsden 139-0 (Rawlinson 102 n.o.), Crompton 137 (Driver 4-42); Werneth 229-9 (Slater 86, Lenhardt 32, Lovell 3-53), Ashton 134 (Lovell 52, M Dronsfield 5-26, Durose 3-30).