Young guns hit ground running
Date published: 20 April 2011
CLL CRICKET: ROYTON can look forward to a rosy future if Sunday’s opening exchanges in the Lake Garage CLL are anything to go by.
New skipper Alan Durose might have been looking on from the sidelines while serving a one-match ban, but professional Luke Procter marshalled the troops superbly as the Paddock outfit slammed Monton and Weaste by eight wickets.
The emphasis at Royton is very much on youth, so it was great to see teenager Liam Mason produce a mature and controlled unbeaten 58 at the top of the order.
His display can only bode well for the future, as can the efforts of new signing Ryan Carruthers, who made 41, and overseas amateur Chris Hutchinson (three wickets for 29 off 18 overs).
Matthew Hodson shifted Monton pro Paul Green for a duck, while Liam Brown collected three from 33 as the young guns displayed their potential.
In fact, so good were Royton that Procter bowled only 6.4 overs and was not needed with the bat.
Durose leads the side in Sunday’s home match against a Littleborough side which dismantled Werneth at Hare Hill, and this clash could be the most significant of the day in the league.
Werneth’s capitulation came as a huge shock as the Coppice outfit fielded a strong line-up.
The top order failed miserably and will be determined to turn the tide at home to Ashton this weekend.
Crompton showed glimpses of promise against Heywood, with professional Fida Hussain taking four wickets and looking organised with the bat before getting out for 14.
And Oldham, although beaten at home by Unsworth, at least managed to put a respectable score on the board.
Accumulating runs proved to be the team’s Achilles heel last season so the Pollards men have something to build on.
