Cup-tie tests

Saddleworth CC: Brian Lord (back row, left), James Chamberlain, Steven Taylor, Craig Lawrence, Ian Hague, Phil Hadfield. Michael Jones (front row, left), Danny Hesford, Steven Howard (captain) Ben Willis, Peter Skuse.

Uppermill eye double
UPPERMILL, from the Armstrongs Office Furniture Saddleworth and District Cricket League, are gearing up for a weekend of cup-tie action.

Alex Griffiths’ side, flying high at the top of the table, take a break from gathering points to pit their wits in round one of the Tanner Cup tomorrow and the LCB Cup 24 hours.

First up for the Ladhill Lane outfit are Austerlands, last weekend’s shock conquerors of reigning champions Bamford Fieldhouse.

Uppermill have won six of their seven league games so far, with their only defeat coming on the opening day of the season against Greenfield.

“We were complacent,” said Griffiths. “It was a wake-up call and I gave them a rollicking afterwards.

“But I can’t fault the players for their effort and commitment since then. They’ve been absolutely fantastic, with bat, ball and in the field.”

Sunday sees Castletown, from the Isle of Man, visit Uppermill for a second-round tie in the LCB Cup.

Castletown played host to Shaw in 2007, with the Saddleworth League side — who chartered a plane for the trip across the Irish Sea — emerging victorious.

Returning to the first round of the Tanner Cup, Saddleworth and Droylsden, who locked horns last weekend in the league, meet again at Well-i-Hole.

Moorside and Friarmere also face each other just seven days after going head-to-head at West View.

The pick of Sunday’s league fixtures is the match between second-placed Glodwick and Shaw in fifth.