Oldham at point of no return

SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS: Oldham skipper Zafar Jatoi will be hoping to end his batting blues - and those of his team - tomorrow.

CRICKET:

TIME is running out for three of our four local teams with designs on playing in next season’s Lake Garage CLL Premier Division.

To qualify, teams must finish in the top eight of the 16-team league.

But next-to-bottom Oldham, Werneth – just a place above them – and Crompton, one above Werneth, are in danger of being cast adrift.

With only 11 fixtures to play and one or two of them likely to fall victim of the weather, there are few chances to climb the table.

Oldham must beat Ashton at Raynor Lane tomorrow if they are to harbour any hope of top-flight cricket next summer. Should they lose tomorrow they go bottom and their attempt will pretty much be over.

Werneth’s plight is little better. They are 22 points adrift of eighth-placed Monton and Weaste and a trip to Clifton tomorrow is not an easy fixture.

Crompton, 19 points lower than their minimum target, will be hoping Rochdale’s batsmen implode as in their collapse to 30 all out at Monton and Weaste.

Royton hope to resume their four-match winning streak, sadly broken by Middleton on Saturday and Sunday’s rain. Their game at Unsworth is a must-win fixture, but it won’t be easy

Sunday sees the rearranged Wood Cup and Burton Cup semi-finals.








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