Gunning for place on cup-final stage

CRICKET:


FEW people would have predicted Glodwick or Friarmere reaching this season’s Tanner Cup final.

Come Sunday evening, weather permitting, one of them will have secured their spot on August 5.

The last-four tie, re-routed to Moorside’s Turf Pit Lane ground because of the saturated state of the Glodwick outfield, should be close. The two sides are separated by just eight points in the Saddleworth and District Cricket League table.

They were due to play each other in the league on June 30 but there was no play.

Slight preference goes to Glodwick: semi-finalists 12 months ago — they lost to Heyside — Nigel Stock’s men beat reigning league champions Uppermill and top-five hopefuls Hollinwood in the previous two rounds.

Imran Asghar is back in the XI — he was missing from the teamsheet recently because of a family bereavement in Pakistan — and in Rehan Rafiq, they possess the Mr Consistent of the professional ranks.

Asghar, an eight-wicket hero against Droylsden last month, Shahid Mahmood and Mark Whitehead are useful with bat and ball.

After a bye in the first round, Friarmere proved too strong for Stayley in the quarter-finals.

They have also beaten Shaw in the league: to underestimate them would be a big mistake on Glodwick’s part.



Heyside and Bamford Fieldhouse go head to head in the other semi-final at Little Hey Street on Sunday.

With the two sides meeting in the league tomorrow, they will probably be sick of the sight of each other by the end of the weekend.

They have become familiar foes in the Tanner Cup in recent years. Bamford beat Heyside in the final 12 months, despite Stuart Moore’s best efforts, while the boot was on the foot in 2008.



The league programme reaches its mid-point tomorrow. Leaders Uppermill visit nearest rivals Greenfield, who can go top of the table if they emerge victorious.








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