Rod opens the door to success for Oldham

ROD MORAN

ROD Moran justified his pleas for a higher place in the Oldham batting order with a vital contribution against Littleborough at Hare Hill.

The Pollards stalwart had been a bit-part player in the first team, often coming in to bat at 10 or 11.

But skipper Chris McDonnell said: “He has opened the innings before and he had been at me for some time to have another go.

“With our batting as it has been, I decided to give it a go with myself and Paul Thompson dropped to the middle order to provide some stability.

“Rod opened with Abid Fasil and they put on 70-odd for the first wicket which was a great start for the team.”

Moran finished on 32 and Fasil 34, contributions which paved the way for Oldham’s matchwinning total of 202 for eight.

The new opening partnership will be on view again on Saturday when Oldham aim to upset league leaders Norden at the Pollards, having already won at Woodhouse Lane earlier this season.

n FORMER Royton player Denny Hulme hit the winning runs as Milnrow beat Unsworth to win the John Willie Lees Wood Cup final at Walsden CC.

The 25-year-old, who left Royton two seasons ago following a long association with the club which started at junior level, came in at number seven and, along with Max Power (48 not out) saw Milnrow over the winning line.

Wicketkeeper Hulme has shone behind the stumps for Milnrow this season, but his batting opportunities have been limited following the Ladyhouse club’s acquisition of prolific opening batsmen Paul Winrow and Alex Scholefield.

He still lives a stone’s throw from Royton and was cheered on during Sunday’s final by his ex-teammates, who included his close friend, Matt Ward, the former captain at the Paddock.

n DRAW for the semi-finals of the CLL’s John Willie Lees Twenty20 Competition, to be played on Saturday, September 4, is:

Milnrow v Littleborough; Clifton v Norden.

The final will be held on the following Saturday, September 11.