Werneth and Royton have big incentive

BIG-HITTING Werneth professional Hasnain Abbas will be aiming to put Oldham to the sword at the Coppice on Sunday.

CRICKET:

ALTHOUGH the Lake Garage CLL season has yet to reach its halfway stage, the identity of this year’s champions seems to be something of a formality.

Following just one defeat in 13 matches and 10 maximum-points victories to their credit, Norden have a firm grip on the title race they won so emphatically last season.

The Woodhouse Lane outfit lead by 17 points from Littleborough, who looked capable of giving them a run for their money but have slipped up in recent weeks.

Those lapses by Boro have opened up the race for second spot – and Werneth are Royton are in the hunt along with eight other teams within striking distance.

Werneth have 37 points and trail Boro by just five.

Andy Walker’s men have two games they will feel are winnable this weekend, starting with Radcliffe at the Racecourse tomorrow.

But the big one as far as local cricket pundits are concerned comes on Sunday when Werneth entertain Oldham at the Pollards.

With home advantage, Werneth will be strong favourites, especially given the respective recent form of the two sides.

But derby matches are notoriously unpredictable and if skipper Chris McDonnell can get a tune out of his Oldham team, a surprise result could be on the cards.

Oldham warm up for the derby clash with a home game against Milnrow tomorrow, while CROMPTON also boast home advantage against Clifton.

Carl Taylor’s men follow that with a trip to Walsden 24 hours later.

As for Royton, they need to forget about the following weekend’s John Willie Lees Wood Cup semi-final against Walsden when they tackle a double header which could propel them into the top half of the table.

Alan Durose’s young side go to struggling Ashton tomorrow before entertaining Monton and Weaste on Sunday.

Luke Procter is unavailable this weekend, so Austerlands pro Humayun Farhat stands in tomorrow, while on Sunday South African Con De Lange, a right-hand batsman and slow left-arm bowler currently plying his trade for Blackpool in the Northern Premier League, will deputise.