Werneth double delight

CRICKET:

WERNETH registered a magnificent weekend double in the Lake Garage CLL, winning at Heywood on Saturday and defeating Clifton at home the following day.

Saturday's victory at Crimble ended a long losing sequence on the ground and will put Werneth in the right frame of mind for their forthcoming Wood Cup first-round tie at the same venue on May 22.

They restricted Heywood to 185 for eight - Danny Pawson 77, Mark Dronsfield four for 52 - and passed that total for the loss of seven wickets thanks to professional Hasnain Abbas's 63, which included four sixes, and overseas amateur Louis Ashton's cultured 58.

Sunday's win at the Coppice was Taylor-made, Matt hitting 49 and Joe 39 in Werneth's total of 200 for nine.

In reply, Clifton were dismissed for 174 despite pro Hendro Puchert's knock of 50. Michael Wilson took three for 50.

Crompton and Oldham both broke their duck for the season, Crompton defeating Ashton by 137 runs on Saturday and Oldham winning at Radcliffe by 29 runs yesterday.

Paid man Fida Hussain (86 and three for seven) was Crompton's hero at Rayner Lane, while Saeed Wasif (seven for 58) was the architect of Oldham's victory at the Racecourse.

Both sides lost their other weekend fixtures, Crompton by 10 wickets at home to Littleborough on Sunday and Oldham by nine wickets at the hands of Middleton at the Pollards on Saturday.

Royton had mixed luck, beating Walsden by four wickets at the Paddock before losing by a single wicket at Unsworth.

Skipper Alan Durose (46 and four for 50) and Ryan Carruthers (50) were the key performers on Saturday, while overseas amateur Chris Hutchinson (114) and stand-in pro Gaurav Dhar (53) were unlucky to be on the losing side 24 hours later.