Thrilling finale to Twenty20 groups

THAT WAS CLOSE: Crompton batsman Steven Wright misses a delivery from Royton's Adam Good outside the off stump in Saturday’s derby match won by the Glebe Street team.

CRICKET: ROYTON and Oldham face a Friday night shoot-out to decide which will book a place in the quarter-finals of the Lees Bitter Twenty20 Competition.

Oldham kept alive chances of qualification by beating Ashton 2-0 in a bowl-out on Tuesday due to heavy rain

At the same time Royton were losing their own bowl-out, 3-2, against Werneth, at the Paddock. Werneth will go through as the leaders of the group if they win at Ashton tomorrow, while the local derby will decide who joins them.

Crompton find themselves in the same position as Royton and Oldham. Carl Taylor’s outfit know they will reach the last eight should they beat Milnrow at Glebe Street following their dramatic last-ball defeat of Walsden on Tuesday.

Walsden have lost both their fixtures in the North-East group, while Crompton and Milnrow have won one apiece, hence the importance of their clash at Glebe Street.


ROYTON opening batsman Chris McDonnell will be hoping for better luck in his second crack at the captaincy of the Lake Garage CLL representative team.
A year ago ex-Oldham skipper McDonnell’s team exited the Reader Inter-League Competition without facing or bowling a ball in anger. They lost 4-1 in a bowl-out against the Lancashire County League after rain washed out any chance of play.

Sunday’s first-round clash against the Bolton League at Middleton (1.30pm) gives McDonnell a second bite of the cherry.


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