Mel on stand-by to help Royton

CRICKET: MEL WHITTLE could come out of retirement again – to help Royton’s bid for a top-five place in this season’s Lake Garage CLL.

The former Oldham and Crompton stalwart retired from local cricket at the end of last season after taking 100 wickets in the CLL.

This summer, the 63-year-old has twice played as a professional in the Cumbria League, but this would be his first venture back into the CLL since “quitting” the game in 2010.

And he is on stand-by to answer a Royton SOS for tomorrow’s home game against Ashton should their contracted professional, Luke Procter, be claimed by Lancashire, his major employers.

A spokesman for Royton said: “At the moment, Luke says he is available for us, but Lancashire might yet want him to rest with their CB40 game against Glamorgan at Colwyn Bay on Sunday in mind.

“Mel is glad to help out and put old rivalries behind him by becoming a Royton player for the day, if needed.

“We are very pleased as we were unable to obtain a deputy from any other league in the local area and beyond.”

Sunday is likely to see the return of Mohammed Zaman Khan, the ex-Crompton professional, for Royton’s game at Radcliffe, again assuming Procter is on Lancashire duty.

Royton also expect to be without Procter the following weekend due to Lancashire’s participation in t20s finals day, followed by a CB40 match against Nottinghamshire.

Like Royton, WERNETH still have designs on a top-five finish and place in next year’s LCB Cup and they will be aiming to boost their hopes in this weekend’s double header at home to Monton and Weaste tomorrow and at Norden – who may well be champions by that stage – on Sunday.

Oldham are at Milnrow tomorrow before a home game against Clifton, while Crompton’s improved form will be put to the test at Unsworth and at home to Walsden 24 hours later.

TOMORROW: Clifton v Middleton; Heywood v Littleborough; Milnrow v Oldham; Rochdale v Radcliffe; Royton v Ashton; Unsworth v Crompton; Walsden v Norden; Werneth v Monton and Weaste.

SUNDAY: Ashton v Milnrow; Crompton v Walsden; Littleborough v Unsworth; Middleton v Heywood; Monton and Weaste v Rochdale; Norden v Werneth; Oldham v Clifton; Radcliffe v Royton.

Matches start at 1.15pm.