Clubs set sail on Wood Cup glory trail

CRICKET:

PREMIER Division places may be up for grabs in the Lake Garage CLL this season, but there is nothing like a good cup run to lift morale and on Sunday our four local sides embark on a journey which they hope leads them to glory.

Success in the John Willie Lees Wood Cup has eluded this area since Werneth were triumphant in 1990.

And although Royton reached the final 12 months ago, they could not clear the final hurdle against Middleton.

So where will the major local challenge come from this season?

Royton, with three wins from four completed games so far, will certainly fancy their chances, but they face a really tricky opener at Milnrow.

The hosts have the same points tally, 15, as Royton and home advantage will have the Ladyhouse outfit believing they are favourites to prevail.



CROMPTON have made a steady start and have home advantage against Unsworth, to whom they lost at Glebe Street in a recent league fixture.

John Wiggans (92) and Hassan Badat (68) were the chief destroyers for Unsworth in that game, but Crompton pro Simon Wright has since hit form and will be keen to make inroads.

The batting of overseas amateur Denis Louis has also been encouraging for Crompton, who could book a quarter-final against WERNETH, assuming Matt Taylor’s men can win at Middleton.

That will be no easy task for Werneth, who are languishing in the bottom half of the table.

But Werneth have been improving steadily and their display in a narrow defeat at Royton indicated that they are a match for some of the league’s better sides.



OLDHAM have yet to win a game, but these are early days and they could spring a surprise at Rochdale if one of their batsmen can make the big score which has been threatened but has yet to be delivered.

Tomorrow’s league action sees Crompton go to leaders Heywood, Werneth host Milnrow, Oldham entertain Radcliffe and Royton face a tough trip to Walsden.





Follow us on Twitter - @OldhamChronicle