All change

Danny Anchor

DANNY Anchor is in charge of steering the Saddleworth and District Cricket League side into the second round of the Readers Lancashire Inter-League Trophy for the first time since 2005.

The batsman is at the helm for Sunday’s showdown with the Bolton League on his home ground of Moorside (start 1.30pm).

Anchor was captain on the last occasion the Saddleworth League reached round two — and in that year he went on to lift the trophy after the Ribblesdale League were beaten in the final, also at Turf Pit Lane.

James Baron, then a teenager, was in the XI as well, and the Uppermill spinner will take his place in the line-up this weekend alongside team-mate and wicketkeeper Alex Griffiths.

Griffiths is one of only two players — Bamford Fieldhouse all-rounder Pete Roberts is the other — who played against the Bolton League two years ago.

It was definitely a day to forget for the Saddleworth League, who were on the wrong end of a record-breaking score at a scorching Eagley Cricket Club.

The Barrow boys — Chris and Tim — along with Luke Perry bludgeoned Darren Shadford’s men close to submission with a total of 358 for seven from 45 overs.

Perry slammed 104 from 86 balls, Chris hit 82 from just 37 deliveries and brother Tim hit a rapid 50.

Those three are missing from the Bolton League side on Sunday, with only Danny Hornby, James Reynard and captain Phil Ingram remaining from the carnage of that day.

Included in the side is Ryan Senior, who spent last season as Shaw’s professional. He now plays his cricket for Bradshaw.

Anchor said: “The Bolton League are one of the strongest teams in the competition.

“But we’ve got players who are in form and between us we should give a good account of ourselves.

“Home advantage is a big help, especially with the Moorside breeze.

“The pitches in the Bolton League are also covered, but Moorside’s isn’t, although the wind up there does tend to dry things out quickly.”

Teams —

Saddleworth League: D Anchor (capt, Moorside), A Griffiths (wkt), J Baron (both Uppermill), D Roberts, P Roberts (Bamford Fieldhouse), A Peters (Greenfield), M Whitehead, I Asghar (Glodwick), N Campbell (Heyside), R Harrington (Shaw), G Dent (Droylsden). Reserves: L Garnett (Heyside), L Warburton (Moorside).

Bolton League: P Ingram (capt, Eagley), R Northrop (wkt, Astley Bridge), J Reynard (Egerton), A Kerr (Greenmount), M O’Rourke (Eagley), Z Patel (Farnworth), R Senior (Bradshaw), C Anderton (Little Lever), P Dickinson (Bradshaw), D Hornby (Greenmount), D Tonge (Farnworth SC). 12th man: Jake O’Byrne.