Lord’s dream

Woodhouses captain Mike Cassidy is interviewed by Sky Sports on the eve of their Village Cup semi-final.

CRICKET:

Let’s make fans happy — Cassidy
WOODHOUSES skipper Mike Cassidy aims to do the home faithful proud on Sunday when he leads out his side against holders Sessay in the Persimmon Village Cup semi-final — in a bid to reach a dream final at Lord’s.

After away wins at Rufford, Great Eccleston, Shipston-on-Sour and Stainsby Hall, Cassidy gratefully received a last-four tie at Medlock Road (start 1pm).

And weather permitting, he hopes to impress a bumper crowd of more than 1,000 supporters.

“If we get a nice sunny day to complement the occasion, it would be fantastic to get a thousand people through the door,” said the captain.

“Then it is down to myself and the rest of the players to do the business, give them some entertainment and secure the result that would take us to Lord’s.

“We know it is going to be a tough test — Sessay won this cup last season — but if we play to the best of our abilities, in front of our own fans, I know we can win.

“The players are buzzing and it cannot come soon enough. Hopefully we can deliver on the day and send people home happy.”

The eagerly-anticipated tie has also caught the imagination of Sky television, with camera crews filming the squad’s final preparations at last night’s training session.

Woodhouses have a full compliment of players from which to choose with the exception of bowler Sam Sweeney.

Competition rules state players who feature for county sides are not permitted to take part — 20-year-old Sweeney is part of the Northants seconds set-up.

But he is available for Woodhouses’ Lees Brewery Lancashire County League Division One home clash with Denton tomorrow.




DELPH go to Slaithwaite tomorrow in the Drakes Huddersfield Premiership looking to increase their six-point lead over Kirkburton and Honley. Strugglers Micklehurst head to Thongsbridge in the Cedar Court Conference.