Royton wary of Perren threat

HUNGRY FOR RUNS . . . Littleborough professional Clinton Perren is averaging over 100 this season.

CRICKET: HOW do you stop a run machine called Clinton Perren?

Well, Royton had better find the answer and pretty quickly, too!

The Paddock outfit face the Australia-born Littleborough professional twice in less than 24 hours and must find a way to curb his insatiable appetite for runs in order to achieve success.

Royton are at Hare Hill tonight for a Twenty20 quarter-final against Boro.

A decent crowd would swell the coffers of both clubs and local cricket fans can be expected to turn out in force to watch Perren and his sidekick, Boro’s overseas amateur Warron Williams.

Perren has 1,369 runs to his credit from 18 innings this season and averages well over 100.

Williams tops the amateur batting lists with an average of close to 80, and both players have also made their mark in Twenty20 combat.

Crompton were on the receiving end of a whirlwind display from the pair in a group game last month, Perren smashing an unbeaten 119 and Williams 85 as Boro scored 241 for one - a run rate of more than 12 per over.

Whatever the outcome of this slogfest, tomorrow’s league fixture between the two teams is heavily loaded in Boro’s favour given the respective league placings of the teams and home advantage.

Royton have slipped to fourth from bottom, but that does not reflect the talent in their squad.

They have had difficulty in getting their best side on the pitch – skipper Matt Ward remains sidelined with an arm injury – and have had to invest heavily in youth.

And their professional Luke Procter has missed matches because of his Lancashire commitments.

The 21-year-old is also doubtful for this weekend’s games following the death yesterday morning of his mother, Jackie, following a long illness.

Boro are fifth in the table, 14 points behind leaders Norden, and cannot afford any more slip-ups if they are to maintain a title challenge.



OLDHAM are also in Twenty20 action tonight when Norden provide the opposition at the Pollards.

Visiting professional Michael Price is an accumulator of runs rather than a hitter, but the Norden line-up is littered with amateur batsmen capable of clearing the boundary, young Harvey Fitton being in particularly good form of late.

Oldham have their own enforcer in Craig Joy, who smashed a rapid 98 against Norden in a league fixture at Woodhouse Lane earlier this season, so this is another match which promises to be well worth the admission fee.

As for the league, Oldham could have been forgiven for feeling sorry for themselves after being docked 15 points over the Keelan Gossayn “volcano-registration” issue.

But they put that behind them to win at Radcliffe last weekend and more of the same at home to Unsworth tomorrow would do very nicely.


WERNETH were disappointed to lose after posting 250 against Clifton last weekend, but they have been in good form of late and will fancy their chances at Radcliffe tomorrow.
Franco Lenhardt, who spent last winter playing league cricket in Tasmania, hit 73 after being promoted to opener and will be looking to get among the runs again.


CROMPTON breathed a huge sigh of relief after beating fellow strugglers Ashton at home.
But it does not get much tougher than tomorrow’s test at home to Rochdale, who are second in the table, only two points behind Norden.

Rochdale boast a potent mix of young talent and experience and are full of confidence.