Royton looking for inspiration

CRICKET:

ROYTON skipper Alan Durose has an important speech to deliver to his young team before Sunday’s home Wood Cup quarter-final against Norden at the Paddock.

This important cup-tie comes only eight days after Royton were brushed aside in the league by the reigning champions and this year’s runaway leaders.

So there is no doubt where the momentum lies as the two teams bid for a place in the semi-finals on Sunday, July 3.

Durose, however, believes his side can respond to the challenge and make a bold bid for victory.

“We have to put last weekend’s game behind us,” he said. “We did not turn up on the day and maybe we were guilty of celebrating our recent good run too much.

“Catches were dropped and there were too many misfields, so we have worked hard on that in training this week.”

Before the defeat to Norden by 109 runs, Royton had been unbeaten in six league and cup matches.

You don’t become a bad team overnight and Durose will be reminding his players of the skills and disciplines they had shown before last weekend’s setback.

And Royton will need to win without Luke Procter who is back on Lancashire duty. Chesney Hughes, currently playing for Derbyshire, is Sunday’s deputy professional.

Oldham, meanwhile, will feel that home advantage against Walsden gives them a major chance of reaching the last four.

The visitors are seventh in the league table, six places above Oldham, but the home side can be pretty effective on their day and their indomitable team spirit will be a huge asset in a winner-takes-all showdown.

If they are to be successful, Oldham’s key players such as skipper Chris McDonnell, pro Kamran Hussain and opening batsman Zafar Jatoi will need to be on top of their game.

SUNDAY (Wood Cup): Clifton v Littleborough; Heywood v Middleton; Oldham v Walsden; Royton v Norden.