Royton double act secure derby glory

Joe Lovell, who went on to star with the ball, works Oldham’s Craig Joy off his hip during Royton’s innings.

PROFESSIONAL Luke Procter and young leg spin bowler Joe Lovell were the heroes of Royton's thrilling three runs victory over derby rivals Oldham in the Lake Garage CLL at the Pollards yesterday.

Procter hit 33 and opening batsman Simon Brierley 30 in a Royton total of 167 for eight, home professional Mohammed Hanif taking four for 74.

But after looking on course to pass that total, Oldham were dismissed for 164 as Procter (five for 73) and Lovell (four for 40) inflicted serious damage.

Skipper Chris McDonnell (34) was the mainstay of the Oldham innings.

WERNETH succeeded where most clubs fail by winning at Middleton's Towncroft ground.

In-form Matthew Taylor took six for 41 as the hosts were skittled for 116 on a pitch which normally yields lots of runs.

And that target proved to be well within Werneth's compass thanks to paid man Darren Shadford's unbeaten 62, the visitors winning by six wickets.

CROMPTON lost by nine wickets to Milnrow at Glebe Street.

Bowled out for 138, Crompton saw that total passed for the loss of just one Milnrow wicket, Paul Winrow hitting an unbeaten 52.

Results:

Ashton 137 (Hough 5-32, Akhtar 4-52), Clifton 216 (Lord 63, Griffiths 58); Crompton 138, Milnrow 142-1 (Winrow 52 n.o.); Littleborough 226-8 (S Butterworth 5-58), Rochdale 272-7 (Dawson 64, Schofield 50); Middleton 116 (M Taylor 6-41), Werneth 118-4 (Shadford 62 n.o.); Monton and Weaste 173-5, Walsden 172-6 (Butcher 64 n.o., Hammond 60); Norden 206 (Brierley 75, Maguire 5-64), Heywood 126 (Makin 7-61); Oldham 164 (McDonnell 34, Procter 5-73, Lovell 4-40), Royton 167-8 (Procter 33, Hanif 4-74); Radcliffe 113 (Fowler 5-53), Unsworth 169 (Flowers 56, Burns 4-36).

n CLL secretary Alan Wright has explained why Oldham's Twenty20 Competition quarter-final tie against Norden at the Pollards has been moved from last Friday to next Sunday (2.30pm).

He said: "ECB guidelines state that junior bowlers should not play cricket on three consecutive days.

"The game was meant to be on Friday, but with Norden playing on Saturday and Sunday as well, they would have broken the guidelines, so it had to be moved.

"Should it rain, Oldham versus Norden will take place on August 8, the day of the Burton Cup final.”