Royton miss out on place among elite

Photo: Gareth Lowe

LOSING BATTLE . . . Royton pro Mohammed Zaman Khan tries in vain to break through against Rochdale.

CRICKET: ROYTON'S hopes of a top-eight finish and place in next season's Lake Garage CLL Premier Division were extinguised by Rochdale.

Alan Durose's men went down at Redbrook — and though they fought much harder at home, the outcome was the same. Littleborough’s win at Clifton meant Royton's chance of finishing in the top half of the table had gone.

Taking first guard, Royton were skittled for a dismal 56, Greg Butterworth taking four for 10 and Derek Faulkener four for 12.

With precious few runs to defend, Royton made a great fist of pulling an unlikely victory out of the fire. But despite Matthew Hodson's four for 31 haul, Rochdale reached their target for the loss of seven wickets.

On a dismal day for local clubs, there were also defeats for Werneth, Crompton and Oldham.

WERNETH, despite paid man Hasnain Abbas's knock of 46, were dismissed for just 98 at home to Heywood, who raced to 102 for one.

Heywood's victory wasn’t enough to give them the chance of winning the title: that honour went to Walsden, who reached their goal with a game to spare.

OLDHAM must have harboured hopes of securing victory at Milnrow when they bowed out their hosts for 117. But even that small total proved beyond Oldham, dismissed for 90.

CROMPTON had little chance at Middleton once their hosts racked up a huge 273 for six at Towncroft.

In reply, Crompton were bowled out for 191 despite overseas amateur Denis Louis's 57 and 43 from Dave Roberts.


PERHAPS it was fitting that in a Lake Garage CLL season marred by appalling weather, rain should have the final say on Sunday.
Every game on the last day of the campaign got under way, but not one was completed due to rain.

Werneth and Oldham were best placed when the rain arrived.

WERNETH took first guard at home to Rochdale and were 104 for five thanks to skipper Matt Taylor's 57 and 35 from his cousin, Joe.

OLDHAM completed their innings, making 169 all out at Unsworth, Naeem Ashraf top scoring with 36 and professional Johnathan Fowler collecting six for 68. In reply, Unsworth were 25 for one when the heavens opened.

Norden were 80 for three at home to CROMPTON, while ROYTON were bowled out for 120 by Littleborough at the Paddock, Liam Mason leading the way with 34 and veteran Mo Bux rolling back the years with eight for 56.

Boro were 38 for none when the match was abandoned.

5 (M Taylor 57, J Taylor 35) v Rochdale.



NORDEN won the Second X1 title.


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