Werneth close in on top-five finish

BACK IN BUSINESS . . . Werneth professional Darren Shadford has hit form in recent weeks.

WERNETH have a place in next year’s Lancashire Cup firmly in their sights following a superb run which has seen them progress from the lower reaches of the table on to the heels of the leading clubs.

Andy Walker’s rapidly-improving outfit are in seventh position, just five points behind fourth-placed Heywood and right behind the clubs immediately above them, Littleborough and Clifton.

The top five teams at the end of the season will qualify for the prestigious Lancashire knock-out and, should Werneth continue in their current vein of form, they should achieved their goal in comfort.

And Walker is confident Werneth can continue to prove hard to beat.

“There are a number of factors in the team’s improvement,” he said. “But the fact that we have come through several tricky situations with players showing some bottle has been very satisfying.

“Matt Taylor has been taking wickets at the top of the order and that has taken pressure off Alan (Durose) and Mark (Dronsfield).

“And Darren Shadford has been bowling well, too, since recovering from injury, and his batting has also been better since his hundred against Middleton. He can be well pleased with his efforts in the last couple of months.”

Werneth will be able to gauge their current status as a team when they take on Norden at the Coppice tomorrow.



OLDHAM, lifted by their victory over leaders Norden last weekend, will fancy their chances at Unsworth tomorrow and at home to Wood Cup winners Milnrow 24 hours later.

Victory at Monton and Weaste provided CROMPTON with a huge tonic, but it does not get much tougher than a visit to second-placed Rochdale tomorrow.

A home game with Clifton on Sunday looks another difficult mission for Carl Taylor’s men.


ROYTON, whose troubles have been publicised on these pages this week, will be hoping to steady the ship with a home win against Middleton tomorrow before Sunday’s tough test at Norden.

TOMORROW: Clifton v Monton and Weaste; Heywood v Littleborough; Milnrow v Radcliffe; Rochdale v Crompton; Royton v Middleton; Unsworth v Oldham; Walsden v Ashton; Werneth v Norden.

SUNDAY: Ashton v Werneth; Crompton v Clifton; Littleborough v Walsden; Middleton v Unsworth; Monton and Weaste v Rochdale; Norden v Royton; Oldham v Milnrow; Radcliffe v Heywood. Matches start at 1.30pm.