McDonnell has big incentive

FAMILIAR FACE: bowler Saeed Wasif (left) will be up against his former Oldham team-mate Chris McDonnell on Sunday.

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CHRIS McDonnell is expecting some lively banter on Sunday when, for the first time in a competitive match, he faces the club with which he was associated for more than 20 years.

The opening batsman left Oldham to play for Royton earlier this year, but his heart will always be at the Pollards.

”I was there for 23 years, apart from a couple of seasons at Kearsley, so obviously I hope they do well – but not against us on Sunday,” he said.

“I have been having some banter with Saeed (Wasif) and Zafar (Jatoi) this week and I will get some abuse should we lose to them.

“We also play them in the Twenty20 on Monday night and back in the league up at Oldham in a few weeks, so it’s going to be quite interesting.”

Sunday’s showdown at the Paddock is hard to call with Royton struggling to find their best form and Oldham expecting to blood some new players.

Royton will be hoping to go into the game following a win at struggling Ashton tomorrow, while Oldham face a tough home game against Wood Cup semi-finalists Milnrow, conqeurors of league leaders Heywood on Sunday.

Werneth, like Royton and Oldham, are in the bottom half of the table and in need of a good run.

They face a daunting task at Heywood tomorrow before hosting Ashton 24 hours later.

Crompton are the only local side in the top half of the table, but they will need to be at their best this weekend when they host Middleton before travelling to Walsden.



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

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



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